How does a lottery scam work?
Victims typically are informed they have won a lottery, yet have to pay transfer fees,
taxes or provide proof of their identity and/or details of their bank accounts or
credit cards in order to receive the "winnings". The names of these
organizations change all the time (they just make up a new name when one is exposed as a fraud), although many of
the notifications use similar wording.
The Step-by-Step Framework of a Scam
 The scammers get your personal information:
Perhaps
scammers found your email –id from social networking sites, which you provide.
Perhaps your entered a “sweepstakes” or win a car, tv or free vacation in a box at the shopping mail.
Somehow scammers got hold of your full information or other means to contact you.
Scammers send you a scam email or letter:
They create a phony lottery or sweepstakes winning or "
grant" email, a letter from a lawyer or "barrister", government official,
bank, "compensation for a business deal", or acting as a "transfer manager" or
whatever they think you will believe. Nothing in the winning notification letter is true. Don't rely on appearances.
They may copy logos, photos, names, addresses and website links from real, legitimate organizations, to make their
scam appear more authentic.
You receive the lottery email, letter or call from scammers:
The emails or letters are sent by scammers working together in a fraud cell.
The cell is a part of a Lottery frauds are delivered in many ways—in person, over the telephone, through the post or by email.
The scammer will tell you that you’ve won something considerable (such as a large sum of money or a great prize) and that all
you have to do is send them money to claim the prize." title="scam 419" target="_blank">scam ring that consists of a
few members who work under direction of a scam ring leader. If you saw them at work, you would see a crowded room
with laptop computers and cell phones. They're now waiting for you to contact them, so they can begin to con you.
You contact the scammers and give them personal information:
After you answer the first letter, scammers will write back asking for your personal identification.
Sometimes, they ask for this information in the first email. This is used to steal your identity. They steal your identity by
using your personal banking information, passport number, driver's license number, or credit card information. They don't
care whether your credit is good or bad. They use this information to:
- open accounts you don't know about.
- buy things on these credit cards, in your name and then do not pay for them.
- take out loans in your name and do not repay them.
- commit crimes using your name and leave you responsible.
- Criminals may even get jobs using your name.
Scammers want your money
ABSOLUTELY NOT! The check or money order you have received is certain to be COUNTERFEIT or stolen.
If you cash it, you will be responsible for the entire amount. You may also be arrested for fraud. Legitimate
lottery winnings are sent by check using DHL, UPS, or FedEx. The check has the lottery company name
on it, no other names! The address, phone numbers and any other information on the check will match the real lottery company.
It will be one that you can verify on your own, without asking the people who wrote the letters, such as doing Google search
on the name of the lottery and visiting their website.
Conclusion
If you did, you cannot get your money back. Once the funds are sent through Western Union and picked
up at the other end, there is no trail to follow. You don't even know to where you sent the money or who actually picked it up.
The funds you sent can be picked up at any Western Union or MoneyGram office anywhere in the world, by anyone who supplies the
name and identification on it, which is usually made up / false. The criminals walked out the door of the office with your
money and disappeared, never to be seen again.
Lottery scam E-mail Example
Subject : Microsoft Award Claims Winner
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
We happily announce to you the draw of 2010 Euro-Afro Asian Sweepstakes Lottery International Program held on the 30th July 2010 in
United Kingdom. Your E-mail address attached to draw number: FD559/SL/7443465/05 with serial number: 652-662 and draw Luky number:
5341802-560 which subsequently won you lottery in the 3rd category of file number: FA1305U-ID. You have therefore been approved to
claim a total sum of US$750,000.00 (Seven hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) in Cheque.
All participants in this lottery program were selected randomly through a computer ballot system, drawn from individual email
addresses from all search engines. Your e-mail address was picked by the automated computer ballot system, which has been programed
for this random selection. This has eventually qualified you for the Winning.This promotional program takes place annually, and is
promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities, Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates of Microsoft Inc.With the support of European
corporate companies and organizations to encourage the use of Internet and computers worldwide. in cashcredited to file
KTU/9023118308/03.
YOUR ADDRESS HAS WON (750,000.00)
Please note that your lucky winning unmber falls within our Asian representative's
booklet in KUALA LUMPUR MALAYISA as indicated in your file number: FA1305U-ID. In view of this, your $750,000.00USD Cheque would
be released to you by Our Asian Fiduciary Agent, Our Asian Fiduciary Agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate
the release of your Cheque as soon as you contact Barrister:AZIM MOHAMMED NGAN office in KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA.
Please contact Barrister AZIM MOHAMMED NGAN in KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA,
for your claim with the following details below to enable the speedy evaluation and processing of your winning.
1 Name 2 Home address 3 Telephone Number 4 Age 5 Occupation 6 lucky number 7 Serial number
8 File number 9 Draw number
For security purposes and clarity we advice that you keep your winning
informations confidential, and not to be disclosed to anyone until your claim have been fully processed and your
winning Cheque delivered to you. BE WARNED!
Your winning details can only be released to your fiduciary agent who will commence the process of your winning,
This is to avoid wrong and double claim, it is also part of our security protocol to avoid unwarranted abuse of this
program by some unscrupulous element.You are requested to contact Our Asian Fiduciary Agent in KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA
for your claim. Please note that you will make your claim but not later than one month and two weeks grace period from
the date you received winning notification.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications make sure that your winning details are quoted correctly in all
correspondence. We advice that you adhere strictly to these procedures to avoid disqualifications and subsequent cancellation. The
above detailed information will be absolutely necessary to facilitate the process of your winning Cheque.Once again! please Note
that this winning is valid for(14)fourteen days and grace period of(7)sven days,failure to issue claims after this period,
your Cheque will be automatically voided.
CONGRATULATIONS,
Yours faithfully,
E.A.A.S Lottery Headquarters,
Euro-Afro Asian Sweepstakes Lottery Inc.
Customer
Service,580 N.Tenth Street,
Sacrament, CA 85914,
An Affiliate of Charity International.
Arena Complex Km 18
Route de Rufisque,
I.P.P Award Department,UintedKingdom.
DR. ALLEN SMITH,
TEL: +447031817096
FAX:+44(02)845215
DR. ALLEN SMITH
(Z0NAL CO-CORDINATOR)
Certificate of approval
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