Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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Have you received an email from "Philip Weeks" at "European Overseas Gambling Board" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "the fiduciary agent" to collect your winnings? It is a scam. No legitimate, legal lottery notifies winners vian email (see footnote) The scammers may change the names and details, but it is still a scam!
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "European Overseas Gambling Board".
Although the most important clue is that no legitimate lottery will ever email a winner, there are many other signs that this is a fraud. We have highlighted some of these in the email below, not the least of which are:
Email address ballot: There is no such thing as a "computer ballot system" or "computer email draw". No one, not even Microsoft has a database of email addresses of the type or magnitude they suggest.
Terrible spelling, punctuation, syntax and grammar - Scammers apparently don't know how to use spell checkers. We assume they dropped out of school before that class. They use almost excessive and random CapItaLiZAtion. They often can't even spell "February" or know that "22th" ought to be "22nd". These scammers usually write at the 3rd grade level. Being non-native English speakers, they also often get first names and surnames (last names reversed), so you will frequently see names like "Mr. SMITH JAMES.", instead of "Mr. James Smith", along with the peculiar usage of periods (full stops) and spaces or the lack thereof. Real lotteries also proofread their emails and look and read more professional.
Using free email account: The scammer is writing to you from a FREE email account (Yahoo, Hotmail, Excite, AIM, Gmail, etc.). Don't you think a real organization would use it's own email, it's own domain and website?
Keep Confidential - Real lotteries THRIVE on publicity - they don't want you to keep anything secret - the publicity causes people to buy more tickets. there is NO risk of "double claiming" because they can validate where the ticket numbers were sold. The scammer want you to keep quiet because they don't want the police or ConsumerFraudreporting to hear about them! It should read: "For our own security, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential until we have finished scamming you!"
Email notification: NO REAL LOTTERY SENDS AN EMAIL TO NOTIFY WINNERS. Period. Full-stop. End of story. There mere fact ALONE that you received an email saying you won a lottery is proof that it is a scam.
Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.
CONGRATULATIONS!....
European Internation Email Award Prize.
29 Kevinsfort Heath, Strandhill Road, Sligo, Ireland.
UNITED KINGDOM.
Customer Service/Claims Department
Ref. No· ESM/WIN/008/05/10/MA
Batch. No· EULO/2907/444/908/06
ATTN:Joe Gullible,
Congratulations on behalf of the "European Overseas Gambling Board.
We do believe that your winnings will be put into good use for community
development.
1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Age:
4. Sex:
5. Country of Residence:
6. Telephone Number:
7. Email Address:
8. Amount Won:
You are expected to provide the information requested accordingly to the fiduciary agent.
On Behalf of the Screening Committee of "European Overseas Gambling Board I wish to formally announce to you that you have successfully passed the Email Screening and Verification Form Matching Test conducted for all on-line winners of your Category at the headquarters of the "European Overseas Gambling Board .
Hence you are therefore CLEARED and can now claim your winnings. Your funds have been approved for release and we will begin the process of remittance of your prize money to you immediately you select a mode of payment from the options stipulated below:
1. You can to come in person to the Disbursements Centre of the European Millions Lottery Board with the following requirements:
(a) A printed copy of your WINNING NOTIFICATION
(b) An International Passport or Drivers license
(c) A Printed copy of your Verification form (you may be asked to fill
it as done before)
(d) Six (6) passport photograph (3*4 size)
In receipt of these requirements, a certified cheque will be prepared in your name to the amount of your prize money and issued to you. Please note that you have exactly 10 days from this day to make yourself available at the Disbursements Centre to claim your winnings. Failure to comply will mean that you have forfeited your winnings and the funds will be reused in upcoming draws.
2. However if you can not make it to the Disbursements Centre within the stipulated time due to non availability of some requirements, arrangements can be made at your approval to have your certified cheque alongside other winning documents delivered to an address of your choice via a secured and efficient courier service.
Hope to have informed you correctly.
Best regards,
Philip Weeks(Claims Agent)
National Trust Agency
10 Brougham St, Edinburgh, EH3 9JS,
UNITED KINGDOM.
TEL:+44-70111-40390
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned !!!
© Copyright 1994-2007 The Euro Millions Lottery.
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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