Have you received an email from "Helen Smith (Ms.) CPA" at "AMERICAN MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "Mr.PHILIPS GEORGE" to collect your winnings? It is a scam. No legitimate, legal lottery notifies winners via email (see footnote) The scammers may change the names and details, but it is still a scam! There are plenty of other clues... such as a phone number in Philadelphia (area code 215) yet an address in Waco, Texas!
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "AMERICAN MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY".
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.
Actual scam email (One example - the scammers constantly change names, dates and addresses!):
AMERICAN MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY.17740 Preston RD, Dallas, Texas 75252.
AMERICAN MEGA MILLIONS Are Affiliate of MEGA Millions Jackpot
Attention,
CONGRATULATIONS: YOU WON $2,500,000.00.
We are pleased to inform you of the result of American Mega Millions Lottery, which was held earlier this month. Your e-mail address attached to e-ticket number: 25-64-46-74-11 (03-07), with Prize Number (match 8): 0073627169 drew a prize of $2,500,000.00. (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand, American Dollars Only) This lucky draw came first in the 4th Category of the Sweepstake.
You will receive the sum of $2,500,000.00 from our authorized bank. Because of some mix-up with sweepstake prizes, including the limited time placed on the payment of your prize of $2,500,000.00 we advice that you keep all information about this prize confidential until your winning prize of $2,500,000.00. (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand, American Dollars Only) have been transferred to you by the authorized paying bank. You must adhere to this instruction, strictly, to avoid any delay with the release of your winning to you in person. This program has been abused severally in past, so we are doing our best to forestall further occurrence of false claims.
This sweepstake was conducted under the watchful eyes of 8,000 spectators. Your e-mail address attached to e-ticket number: 25-64-46-74-11 (03-07), was selected and; it came out first by an electronic-ballot draw from over 250,000 e-mail addresses (personal and corporate e-mail addresses). This program is sponsored by CFI to compensate faithful internet suffers around the globe. Congratulations for becoming one of the few lucky winners.
With your permission, your e-mail will also be included in the next sweepstake of 200 Million American Dollars. You must claim your prize: $2,500,000.00. Not later than 7-days from the moment you receive this e-mail. In order to avoid unnecessary delays with your claim from the bank; please contact your claims officer below, and quote your winning and personal information now, and in all your correspondence with the claims officer. Here is the contact information:
Claims Manager:
Mr.PHILIPS GEORGEAmerican Mega Millions Lottery Claims Department300 South 5th Street, Waco, Texas 76701E-mails: ammlphilips@aol.com
TEL/FAX: 001 215 326 2589
Furnish them with the following:
VERIFICATION FORM:
1.) FULL NAME:
2.) AGE:
3.) SEX:
4.) ADDRESS:
5.) ZIP/POSTAL CODE:
6.) STATE/PROVINCE:
7.) COUNTRY:
8.) PHONE:
9.) OCCUPATION/POSITION:
10.) COMPANY:
11.) EMAIL ADDRESS:
12.) E-TICKET NUMBER:
(Including amount won and how you intend to receive the amount you won).
Failure to provide the above details might result to the disqualification of your winning so kindly adhere to the simple instructions
Congratulations.
Yours Faithfully
Helen Smith (Ms.) CPA.Coordinator: American Mega Millions Lottery.Open Mon - Sat 8am-8pm.
Copyright © 1970-2007 the American Mega Millions Lottery Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines
Source: consumerfraudreporting
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