Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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In this case, the victim replied to the scammer, "BINGO LOTERIJ INTERNATIONAL.NL" and now the scammer tells him that he must come to the Netherlands to sign a document. Of course, if the victim (we mean "winner") can't make it, they can sign power of attorney to the scammer.
Let's review that: you are asked to give an absolute stranger the legal right to sign any document on your behalf. If that sounds like a bright move to you, we kindly suggest that you strike yourself repeatedly in the head until you are unconscious. Obviously, less harm will come to you in that state then when you are able to speak and write emails.
Below is the reply email from the "BINGO LOTERIJ INTERNATIONAL.NL".
There are many other signs that this is a fraud that we have highlighted in the email below, not the least of which are:
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?
Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.
Subject: NOTARIZATION OF PRIZE AWARD DOCUMENTS/ APPOINTMENT
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:09:21 -0500SPONSOR BINGO LOTERIJ INTERNATIONAL.NL
DAMSTRAAT 30
3531 BV, UTRECHT
THE NETHERLANDS TEL :00-31-620-797-114
FAX : 00-31-847-270-278
FROM USA:011-31-620-797-114Attn: Lopez, This is to acknowledge the receipt of the claims appraisal and verification form and confirm that the content has been verified to be correct. Please be informed that you are required to notarise the award winning certificate here in the Netherlands as this is a pre-requisite for the remittance of the winning sum.
For this purpose an official appointment has been scheduled for you for Monday the 5th of March 2007 in Amsterdam. Should you be unable to meet this appointment, you can authorise our affiliated legal practitioner/advocate to do the signing on your behalf. In the case of the above, do notify us as soon as possible so that the you can be duely informed of the requirements for necessary to achieve this.
You are advised to notify us as soon as possible for the chosen option.
Warm regards,
Mr. T.T Banken.
Admin. Secretary.
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