Ah, another "Powerball Lottery" scam.  If you haven't figured it out by now, we'll repeat; with any REAL lottery, you have to buy a ticket to be able to win. There is NO SUCH THING as a "Computer Random Selection System (CRSS)" of email addresses to select lottery winners. Ask yourself why would anyone give money away to strangers based on their email address. 

Notice the gibberish writing, excessive use of CAPITAL letters, etc. Note the other clues to an obvious fraud that we have highlighted in the letter; keep confidential, selected by a random computer lottery of email addresses, use of free hotmail/yahoo/excite email accounts, etc.

• Master list of sample lottery scam emails

• How to recognize a lottery scam

• What to do if you think you have been the victim of a lottery scam

• How the lottery / sweepstakes scams work

First scam email - just substitute your name and email address in the blanks below

Wed, 7 Mar 2007 04:40:21 +0000 (GMT)
From: "CLAIMS OFFICER" < info_officers_claims@yahoo.co.uk >
Subject: PAYMENT OF WINNING CLAIM

POWERBALL LOTTERY,
Accredited Claim Agent-
29 Colmore Row,
Birmingham , B3 2EW
United Kingdom

7th March, 2007.

ATTENTION: _______

PAYMENT OF POWERBALL LOTTERY WINNING CLAIM No. PBL2348974321

According to the notification you received. I am in receipt of your e-mail and I must say that you should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners in this years lucky dip sweepstakes. As you already know your email address was randomly selected along with others from over 21,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed on-line. Each email address was attached to a ticket number.

Your email address (_______) was selected as winner. Note that your winnings can be delivered in the next 24-48 hours upon your contacting the delivery department. so you should contact them urgently to get your winnings.

I'm also glad to inform you that, your Original Certificate and your Certified bank cheque has been forwarded to the courier company for onward delivery to you. However, ELITE COURIER LIMITED. are responsible for sending you the your Certified Cheque and the original copies of the documents which will require your signature. When the documents are couriered to you, you would sign them and return them to the courier company, from there it would be forwarded to our Powerball Lottery headquarters. Please oblige to follow the ELITE COURIER LIMITED. instructions so the document can get to your present address on time.

You are to contact the Delivery Officer of the Payment Parastatal with the following information below:

Courier Name: ELITE COURIER LIMITED.

Contact Person: Charles Smith

Telephone:+44 7011 137 793

E-mail: elitecourierlimited@excite.com

You are advised to send the dispatch officer of the courier company a mail through this ID [ elitecourierlimited@excite.com ] for their courier cost details.

When contacting them, you are to include this order number, full names and amount won and your contact address as your subject. Please you are advice to write down the order number and save it.

Note: you are to quote your complete names, Ref/Batch Numbers, winning amount and your direct phone number so that they can honour your letter.

Once again I say congratulations.

Warm Regards,

Mr.Micheal Hoyt (Mr)

Fiduciary Agent/Logistic Officer.

TEL: +44 703 590 0263

Names of Scam / Fake / Fraud Lottery 

Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies

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