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Lotteries, Sweepstakes and Competitions
Many Australians are lured by the excitement of a surprise win and find themselves sending huge amounts of money overseas to claim fake prizes.
What to look for
You cannot win money or a prize in a lottery unless you have entered it yourself, or someone else has entered it on your behalf. You cannot be chosen as a random winner if you don’t have an entry.
Many lottery scams try to trick you into providing your banking and personal details to claim your prize. You should not have to pay any fee to claim a legitimate prize.
Don’t be fooled by claims that the offer is legal or has government approval all scammers will tell you this. Instead of receiving a grand prize or fortune, you will lose every cent that you send to a scammer. And if you have provided other personal details, your identity could be misused too.
Remember that tickets in legitimate Spanish lotteries or the UK Lotto can only be bought in that country.
A fake prize scam will tell you that you have won a prize or a competition. You may receive an email, a text message or see a pop-up screen on your computer. There are often costs involved with claiming your prize, and even if you do receive a prize it may not be what was promised to you.
The scammers make their money by making you pay fees or call their premium rate phone numbers to claim your prize. These premium rate calls can be very expensive, and the scammers will try to keep you on the line for a long time or ask you to call a different premium rate number.
You cannot win money or a prize in a lottery unless you have entered it yourself, or someone else has entered it on your behalf. You cannot be chosen as a random winner if you don’t have an entry.
Many lottery scams try to trick you into providing your banking and personal details to claim your prize. You should not have to pay any fee to claim a legitimate prize.
Don’t be fooled by claims that the offer is legal or has government approval all scammers will tell you this. Instead of receiving a grand prize or fortune, you will lose every cent that you send to a scammer. And if you have provided other personal details, your identity could be misused too.
Remember that tickets in legitimate Spanish lotteries or the UK Lotto can only be bought in that country.
A fake prize scam will tell you that you have won a prize or a competition. You may receive an email, a text message or see a pop-up screen on your computer. There are often costs involved with claiming your prize, and even if you do receive a prize it may not be what was promised to you.
The scammers make their money by making you pay fees or call their premium rate phone numbers to claim your prize. These premium rate calls can be very expensive, and the scammers will try to keep you on the line for a long time or ask you to call a different premium rate number.
PROTECT YOURSELF
REMEMBER
A legitimate bank or financial institution will never ask you to click on a link in an email or send your account details through an email or website.
A legitimate bank or financial institution will never ask you to click on a link in an email or send your account details through an email or website.
CAUTION
Never send your personal, credit card or account information by an email or enter it on a website that you are not certain is genuine.
Never send your personal, credit card or account information by an email or enter it on a website that you are not certain is genuine.
THINK
Don’t give out your personal, credit card or account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.
Don’t give out your personal, credit card or account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.
INVESTIGATE
www.NigerianSpam.com has links to websites with the latest information and tips on how to protect yourself online. Keep your security software up to date to detect and remove viruses and other malicious software. A computer professional can advise you about this.
www.NigerianSpam.com has links to websites with the latest information and tips on how to protect yourself online. Keep your security software up to date to detect and remove viruses and other malicious software. A computer professional can advise you about this.
ASK YOURSELF
Are the contact details provided in an email correct? Telephone your bank or financial institution to ask whether the email you received from them is genuine. Use a phone number that you know is legitimate, from an account statement, the phone book or the back of your ATM card do not rely on the contact details provided in the email.
Are the contact details provided in an email correct? Telephone your bank or financial institution to ask whether the email you received from them is genuine. Use a phone number that you know is legitimate, from an account statement, the phone book or the back of your ATM card do not rely on the contact details provided in the email.