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 "Mrs Elizerbeth Walters" at "SHELL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "Mr. Trevor Blair" 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! For pities sake, they can't even spell "Elizabeth" correctly! They tell you to contact Nat West Bank... at a Yahoo account! How anyone would fall for this scam is beyond us. The quote from "Back to the Future", "Hello, McFly? Is anyone home?" comes to mind.
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "SHELL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL".
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 it's own email, it's 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.
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 18:48:59 +0000 (GMT)
From: "Mrs Elizerbeth Walters" < info_shellclaimsdept@yahoo.co.uk >
Subject: CONTACT OUR PAYING BANKSHELL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL.
UN-CLAIMED DEPARTMENT.
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.
WORLD LOTTERY.Ref: SHL/9420X2/68
Batch:074/05/ZY369.Dear Rachel Smith.
Compliment of the day to you,
Congratulations once again from all the staff here. I am in receipt of your mail and I must say that you should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners in this year lucky dip sweepstakes. As you already know your email address was randomly selected along with others from over 125,000 website on the internet of which your email address (************) was attached to file XYL/26510460037/04, and it was selected along with others as winners. I have finally verified your winnings and it's exactly with what is present on our Database. Your particulars have been documented for record purposes.
We have Tranfer your winning funds to the NATWEST BANK PLC LONDON. You are to contact them immediately for instructions on how to transfer your funds to any account you nominate. A domiciliary account will be set up at NATWEST BANK PLC LONDON. in your name and the bank is presently expecting your contact before they can proceed. They will provide you with online access to your account as soon as you get in touch with them. Contact them with the details below:
NATWEST BANK PLC LONDON.
Email: natwesttelebankingplc@yahoo.co.uk
Mr. Trevor Blair,
International funds transfer department.You will be expected to provide them with some form of identification and your phone numbers specimen for their record purposes. They will require your Details for them to effect any transfers from your account, i want you to adhere to all instruction to aviod complecations
Get back to me when they respond to you.
Yours Truly,
Mrs Elizerbeth Walters.
Claims Agent(Uk Online Promo Programme).
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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