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. Theresa Bedford" at "The South Africa Gaming Board E-Lottery Promotions" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "Dr Godwin Thambo" to collect your winnings? It is a scam. Lotteries don't give money away to people who don't buy tickets - not even as a "promotion". That's just dumb; it would not motivate anyone to BUY a ticket! And 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 "The South Africa Gaming Board E-Lottery Promotions".
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 South Africa Gaming Board.
72 New Bond Street , Nelson Mandela Way, Pretoria 015. South Africa.Your Ref: BAL/198243108/05/DON. Batch: 15/00/4774
Dear Winner:
We happily announce to you the draw of the South Africa Gaming Board E-Lottery Promotions held on the 19th of March. 2007 in South Africa . Your e-mail address attached to an electronically generated ticket, E-ticket number: 56475611545188 with Serial number 19445/12 drew the lucky numbers: 23-6-89-16-54-1, which subsequently won you the E-lottery Prize in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$2, 500, 000.00 (Two Million, and Five Hundred Thousand, United States Dollars) now credited to file BAL/198243108/05/DON.
This is from a total cash prize of US$80,000.000.00 (Eighty Million United State Dollars) shared amongst the first fifty-five (55) lucky winners in this category "B". This year's E-Lottery Promotion Jackpot is the largest ever for South Africa Gaming Board. The estimated $80 Million jackpot would be the sixth biggest in S.A history due to the 2010 World Cup. The biggest was the $373 Million jackpot that went to two winners in January, 2004 draw of The Big Game Mega Millions' predecessor.
All participants were selected randomly from THE INTERNET through an electronic draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies, and 250,000 individuals. This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your prize remitted to you. This is a part of our precautionary measures to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned.
Your lucky winning numbers fall within our European booklet representative office in here in South Africa as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, release of your US$2, 500, 000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand, United States Dollars) would be processed by our affiliate claim office. Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your prize to you as soon as you initiate contact with him.
To claim your prize, please contact our claims agent with the contact details below to process your claims and ensure to include your winning and reference numbers when filing your claim.
Name: Dr Godwin Thambo.
Tel: + 27-783-701-666
Fax: + 27-866-943-680
Email: go.winclaimsa@yahoo.com.hk
Payment and Release Agent for:
The South Africa Gaming Board.
Note that all claims process must be duly completed early to avoid impersonation or double claim. Also to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our designated agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Theresa Bedford.
The South Africa Gaming Board Coordinator (E-Lottery Programs).
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
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