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 "ROBERT A. V. BENARD" at "FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "LARRY GRAIN" to collect your winnings? It is a scam. Apparently, there IS a legal "FreeLotto" that has a paid subscription auto-entry called "F.A.S.T." but this email is a separate scam. And just because 'Freelotto" may be legal does NOT mean we are endorsing it. WE DEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND FREELOTTO.COM.
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL".
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.
FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Prize Remittance Division (PRD)
RE: OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION
FILE REF NO: 07- 321786542
FAST NO: 2912144
LOTTO REF: FL/0507/FAST
Dear Prize Winner,
This email confirms that you have received from the FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL an official notification of your lottery winning in the FREELOTTO AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIPTION TICKET GAME (F.A.S.T) played on the 1st of JAN 2007, And was announced today the 28 Of February 2007 at our Lottery office complex Trafford, London.
You have won a FREELOTTO PRIZE OF ONE MILLION UNITED KINGDOM POUND STERLING (£ 1,000,000.00) british pounds sterling, a prize payout of your winning has been approved by the FREELOTTO GROUP. In accordance with the United Kingdom lottery ordinance, you are authorized as the lotto prize winner to request claims of your winning prize. The FREELOTTO AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIPTION TICKET (F.A.S.T) GAME is an online promotional program organized by the FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL. A total of 500,000 different email addresses are entered for the FREELOTTO AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIPTION TICKET GAME (F.A.S.T). All email addresses entered for the game are submitted by our partner international email service providers/ marketing companies and public services providers. Winners are randomly selected systematically through our Electronic Random Selection System (ERSS). Your email ID was included among the 500,000 email addresses and entered for Batch 16125 with Ticket No. 2912144 and was luckily sele!
cted among 1-5 batch winners.
You are adviced to keep your winning information highly confidential, As any breach of confidentiality on the part of winners will result to disqualification. Note that the FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL will remit prize payout to only winners who have officially file in for their prize claims. You are to choose one out of the listed option by which you want your prize remitted to you:
You are required to file your claims by contacting the OFFICE Prize Remittance Division
NAME :LARRY GRAIN
EMAIL: info_fiduciarydepartmentuk@yahoo.co.uk
PHONE:+447011128513
Completely fill out the Claim Form - E provided herein and submit a completed filled form vian email to the Prize Remittance Division. Your winning information has been provided above.
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APPLICATION FOR PRIZE CLAIM FORM - E (Receipt Official Notification Letter) [FILE REF 07- 21786542]
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[FULL NAME OF WINNER]......................................................
[RESIDENT ADDRESS].........................................................
[COUNTRY/ REGION]..................
[STATE].............................
[DATE OF BIRTH]...../...../......... [SEX]..........
[OCCUPATION]........................
[CURRENT EMAIL].....................
[TEL/FAX]...........................
A scanned copy of your international passport, drivers license or any form of identification will be appreciated.
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WINNING INFORMATION
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[FAST TICKET NR]........................ [LOTTERY REF
NR]................
[DATE]..................................
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CLAIMANT SIGNATORY DECLARATION
I ..................................... Declare as the lotto prize winner that all information I have provided for my winning claims are true and correct information of myself. I agree with the FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL lottery policy and regulation in line with my lottery claims.
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Please indicate \\\\\\\"X\\\\\\\ " for the option you want your prize remitted to you.
Listed below is our payment modalities and option of payment.
(1) BY COURIER DELIVERY OF YOUR PRIZE CHEQUE: [;;;;]
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(2) TRANSFER THE MONEY TO YOUR ACCOUNT VIA SWIFT BANK TRANSFER:
[;;;;]
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THIS EMAIL WAS SENT FROM THE DESK OF THE ORGANIZATION PRESIDENT FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL, ON BEHALF OF F.A.S.T GAMES 2007.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WINNING.
SINCERELY,
ROBERT A. V. BENARD,
GROUP PRESIDENT - FLG
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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