Have you received an email from "Silva Sandra" at "POWERBALL LOTTO International programs" telling you that "your
email address won in the first category" or something similar, and to
contact "GRAY SMITH" to collect your winnings? It is a
scam. No legitimate, legal lottery notifies winners via 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 "POWERBALL LOTTO International programs".
-
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!
-
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.
15 March 2007 10:52:53
POWERBALL LOTTO ( silversandra1@yahoo.co.uk )
Reply-To: g.graysmith@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Coupon No PBL/2348974321
Coupon No PBL/2348974321
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.UK
Ref Nr: PBL/CN/6654/CP
Coupon No PBL/2348974321
We happily announce to you the draw of the POWERBALL LOTTO
International programs held on the 17th of January 2007 in UK.
Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number: 564 75600545-188 with Serial number
5388/02drew the lucky numbers: 17 -21 -25 -27 -30 -37- 16 which subsequently
won you the lottery in the 1st category. You are therefore been approved to claim a
total sum of 500,000.00GBP (five hundred thousand, Pounds sterling) in cash
credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a total cash prize of US 125
Million Pounds, shared amongst the first Fifty (50)lucky winners in this
category. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European
booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon.
Good luck from me and members of staff of the POWERBALL LOTTO Overseas Claims
Unit
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person: GRAY SMITH
Email: g.graysmith@yahoo.co.uk
TEL: +44 701 115 3332
TEL: +44 702 405 2507
FILL AND SUBMIT TO THE FIDUCIARY AGENT FOR FOLLOW UP
1.TEL:........................................................................
2.SEX:.......................................................................
3.AGE: ......................................................................
4.NAME:...................................................................
5.ADDRESS: ...........................................................
6.COUNTRY:.............................................................
7.OCCUPATION:...................................................
8. Please you are to choose your payment option at which you want your fund
Paid to you; listed below is our payment modalities and option of payment.
(1) TRAVELLING TO PHYSICAL PAYMENT OFFICE IN MADRID SPAIN FOR CASH COLLECTION
(Send flight itinerary to confirm your arrival/appointment
Date}:..........................
(2) ELECTRONIC WIRE TRANSFER:...................................
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch
numbers and Name in any correspondences with us or our designated agent.
Sincerely,
Silva Sandra
