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 "The FreeLotto Company", contacted them, and heard back from "Jeff Peterson" at "Archer and Archer Law Firm" telling you that "we are to make arrangements for the Notarization of your form and also to seek legalization of the funds by registering your winnings with The United Kingdom Gaming Board/Commission since you are a non-UK citizen"? It is a scam. Apparently, there IS a legal "FreeLotto", but this email is a separate scam, not sent by the company "Free Lotto". 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 "Archer and Archer Law Firm".
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.
The ATTN: Suzy Smith,
This firm is in receipt of your e-mail dated 6th April 2007. We have also received a faxed copy of your payment Mandate and claims form from your FREELOTTO agent's office. We therefore wish to congratulate you on your prize Winnings of $2,000,000. We shall take appropriate steps to process both the Legalization and Notarization of your claims in the shortest possible time.
With these developments, we are to make arrangements for the Notarization of your form and also to seek legalization of the funds by registering your winnings with The United Kingdom Gaming Board/Commission since you are a non-UK citizen as required by statutes.
For us to confirm your identity and also for the security of your lottery winnings, Kindly re-confirm the following information below of you to us as stated by you in your claims processing form. This will enable us confirm that you are the same person referred to us by the FREELOTTO COMPANY.
1. Your Exact Names
2. Phone numbers/Fax
3. Current residential address.
4. Sex
5. Your Date of Birth
6. Next of Kin.
7. Occupation
The above should be provided exactly as filled by you in your claims processing form as we have a copy of it here with us for our verification.
Yours Sincerely,
Jeff Peterson (Esq.) For
Archer and Archer Law Firm.
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The information contained in this e-mail may be confidential and/or legally privileged. It is intended only for the stated addressee(s) and access to it by any other person is unauthorized. If you are not an addressee, you must not disclose, copy, circulate or in any other way, use or rely on the information contained in this e-mail. Such unauthorized use may be unlawful. If you have received this e-mail in error, please inform us immediately and delete it and all copies from your system.Archer and Archer Law Firm cannot accept liability for any breaches of confidence arising through use of email. Any opinions expressed in this email are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect our opinions and we will not accept responsibility for any commitments made by our employees outside the scope of our business. Archer and Archer Law Firm do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of such information.
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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