Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
There are affiliate links on this page.
Read our disclosure policy to learn more.
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 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 "POWERBALL LOTTO International programs".
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!
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.
15 March 2007 10:52:53
POWERBALL LOTTO ( silversandra1@yahoo.co.uk )
Reply-To: g.graysmith@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Coupon No PBL/2348974321Coupon No PBL/2348974321
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.UKRef 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 2507FILL 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
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
***