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 "Mr Ahan Larry" at "AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY COMAPNY" (that's how they spelled it!) telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "MR.STEVE COLLINS" 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 "AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY COMAPNY".
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: "AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY COMAPNY" < n.aus.1@hotmail.com >
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS !
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 10:30:46 +0100
Ref:575061725
Batch:8056490902/188
Winning no:KB8701/LPRC
CONGRATULATIONS !DearSir/Madam,
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 13th March 2007 from the Australian International Lottery programme. Which is fully based on an electronic selection of winners using their e-mail addresses. Your name was attached to ticket number;575061725 8056490902 serial number 6741137002 This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows 4-13-33-37-42 bonus Number 17,which consequently won the lottery in the second category.
You here by have Been approved a lump sum pay of US$500,000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) in cash credit file ref:ILP/HW 47509/02 from the total cash prize shared amongst eight lucky winners in this category. All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn from Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia,Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually. This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomorate of some multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the commmunities where they have operational base. Further more your details( e-mail address) falls within our european representative office in Amsterdam, Holland, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of US$500,000.00 will be released to you from this regional branch office in NIGERIA. We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes for US $1.3Billion international draw.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: Simply contact our fiducial agent,
MR.STEVE COLLINS
at;( stevecollins@australianembassy.us )
To file for your claim Please quote your Date of draw,Reference Number, Batch Number and Winning Number, which can be found on the top-left corner of this message.Also, you should give in your telephone number to help locate your file easily. For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize has been released to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this programme by non-participant or unofficial personnel. Note, all winnings MUST be claimed before the 30th of March 2007; otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity.
Congratulations once again on your winning!
Best Regards
Mr Ahan Larry(For co-ordinator)
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS.
CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS
AGENT AT:
( Steve_collins01@yahoo.com )
ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF WINNERS WILL RESULT TO
DISQUALIFICATION.
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
* Re: emails of winnings. We know of only ONE exception in the world to this rule - and if you bought a ticket from them, you would know it, and would not be questioning it.