Lottery Scam

EXAMPLE OF A LOTTERY SCAM

 

 

From:               "WENDY WITKAMP” <winnotice1118@msn.com>

Date:               1/31/2006 2:55:43 AM

Subject:           CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON!!!!

 

FROM THE DESK OF DAYZERS E-MAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

 

REF: S23/15/40/12/29/

BATCH: 54/010/0-PD

 

RE: EMAIL WINNING CONFIRMATION NOTICE:

 

We are glad to inform you that your E-mail address appears as the confirmed

Winner of our last Dayzers email lottery program held on the 25^th January

2006.

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 216-365-787 with Serial number

34/15/65 drew

Luck number 32-15-54-35-47, which Consequently won in the 2^nd category,

You have therefore been approved For a lumpsum ayment of EUR 500.000.00

euros.

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

This promotional program takes place every year.  All participants were

selected through a computer ballot system rawn from over 100,000 companies

and 50,000, 000 ndividual email addresses and names from all over the world.

 

In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to

quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.  We ask

that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has

been processed and your money remitted to you.

To file for your claim or for further details, please contact our agent:

 

CONTACT NAME:PETER HANDS

CITY/COJNTRY:AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

FREE SERVICE NUMBER:0031-630-221-083

EMAIL:dayzersinfo003@netscape.net

 

In respect of our commitment towards helping the less previledge, we ask

that you voluntarily contribute 1% of your Global winnings to any charity

organization you desire at your convenience.

 

Not that all winning must be claimed not later than 25^th of FEBRUARY 2006.

After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.

 

Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being

part of our promotional program.

Yours Sincerely,

 

Mrs. Vanessa J. Smith

 

This email and its attachments are confidential and may contain legally

privileged information.  You should not disclose the contents to any other

person. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender

immediately and delete this email from your

 

Fraud Prevention Tips:

·         You cannot win a lottery unless you buy a ticket.  The money from ticket sales pays the winners.  The information you provide when you enter will be added to the company’s database for future sales.

·         If you were a real winner, they would know your name.  Generic greeting is due to them sending the same e-mail to hundreds, if not thousands, of e-mail addresses.

·         People who perpetrate lottery and sweepstakes scams frequently tell the victims not to share the news of their good fortune.  They state that if you share the news, someone might warn you that it is a scam.  Real lotteries and sweepstakes want you to tell the world – it is great publicity for them.

·         In order for the scam to work, the perpetrator needs to be able to communicate with you directly.  Once you contact them, you will be told about the fees or taxes that must be paid before you can claim your prize.  The perpetrator may even supply a check to help pay those fees or taxes.  The check is counterfeit.  If you follow the perpetrator’s instructions, you will lose money and get nothing in return.  You never have to pay fees or taxes in order to collect your winnings.