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 "Dr.Wolfgang G. Crusen" at "EUROPEAN SWEEPSTAKES PROMOTION" telling you that "your email address won in the first category" or something similar, and to contact "Mr.Harry Henderson" 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! See this page and this page for variations of the scam. "European Sweepstakes Promotion" is a popular name for scammers to use.
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "EUROPEAN SWEEPSTAKES PROMOTION".
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 its own email, its 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.
From: "Euro Agent" < euro33agent@eyou.com >
To: euro33agent@eyou.com
Subject: AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 01:22:20 +0800EUROPEAN SWEEPSTAKES PROMOTION
49 Chepstow Close, Lytton Grove,
London , SW15 2HG
United Kingdom.Ref: win/oct102/06
Batch:05/10/wa34AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the EUROPEAN SWEEPSTAKES International programs held on the 20th of MARCH 2007 in CROYDON, LONDON Your email address attached to ticket number :1456 with serial number :5555/04 drew the lucky number 3-1-174, which subsequently won you the lottery in the first category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 2,000,000.00 (Two million euros) in cash credited to file wlp/23456/05. This is from a total cash prize of 60,000,000 Million euros, shared amongst the first thirty (30) lucky winners in this category.
In view of this, your 2,000,000.00 (Two million euros) would be released to you by our redemption centers and Europe.
Our agents will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact our agent.
All participants were selected randomly from World wide Website through computer ballot system extracted from over 1,000,000 companies and individuals, This promotion takes place annually.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims 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 by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.
To file your claims, please contact our agent:
Mr.Harry Henderson.
Universal Trust Inc.
Email: euro_henderson74@hotmail.com
Tel: +44-704-570-5404
Fax: +44-707-502-0586Note that all winning must be claimed not later than two weeks of receiving this notification. After this date all unclaimed, funds will be included in the next stake.
To avoid unnecessary delay and complications, Please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program!!!
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely,
Dr.Wolfgang G. Crusen
Managing Director
European Sweepstakes Promotion.
NOTE: As we've mentioned, the names are utterly unimportant; the scammers just make them up. For example, this email is also sent from
Mr Wim van den Assem
Executive Director
EUROPEAN SWEEPSTAKES PROMOTION
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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