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 "NATIONAL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY INC." telling you that "You have won a consolation cash prize" or something similar? It is a scam. No legitimate, legal lottery notifies winners vian email (see footnote) You might find it odd that it is a National Online International lotery. Logic would dictate that something is either national or international, but cannot simultaneously be described as both! Scammers may be excellent conmen, but they're not very bright.
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "NATIONAL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY INC.".
There are many other signs that this is a fraud that we have highlighted 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 random CapItaLiZAtion and often can't even spell "February" or know that "22th" ought to be "22nd". Real lotteries proofread their emails and use people who can write above the 3rd grade level.
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!
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.
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NATIONAL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY INC.
Kruslann 205, 1098 SJ,
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Date:February 15th,2007
Ref Number: NOSL/ CN/ 3565/ C06
Dear Consolation Prize Winner,CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNING NOTICE
British and American private international e-games organizers and co-sponsors, NATIONAL ONLINESWEEP LOTTO Group International, officially bring to your notice the final draw and the result of the February 9th,2007.We wish to congratulate and inform you on the selection of your emailcoupon number. Your email ID was included among the 50,000 different email addresses submitted by our partner international email provider companies.
You have won a consolation cash prize of; US$2,500,000.00 (Two million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
For due processing of your winning claims, do contact
Mr MARK COUGHLIN Agent National Online sweep lottery has been assigned to assist you with the following details.
CONTACT INFO:
Name: Mr.MARK COUGHLIN
Email: info_nationalonlinedept@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: +44-7011136459
Fax: +44-8701213851
1.FULL NAMES:....................................
2.ADDRESS:.......................................
3.SEX:...........................................
4.E-MAIL ADDRESS:................................
5.TELEPHONE NUMBER:..............................
6.COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:..........................Once again congratulations from the management of the National Online Sweep International Lottery on your consolation prize winning.
Regards,
MR.PAUL GIRLING***
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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