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Have you received an email from "THE PROMOTION MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT " at "SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP BID INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "MR.MARK THAMBO" to collect your winnings? That is, if you can figure it out, in this jumble of colors, photos, fonts and other nonsense. The photos are all stolen from other websites.
It is a scam. No legitimate, legal lottery notifies winners vian email (see footnote) The scammers may change the names and details, but it is still a scam!
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP BID INTERNATIONAL 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.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP BID LOTTERY AWARDCOMPUTER PROMOTIONAL DRAWCongratulations from the Staffs & Members of the
National Lotteries Board CommissionTHIS MESSAGE IS FROM THE PROMOTION MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENTSOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP BID INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD.YOU HAVE WON ON THE COMPUTER BALLOT,THE SUM OF US$ 2 million us dollarsPLEASE CONTACTMR.MARK THAMBOSOUTH AFRICAYOUR CLAIMS AGENT.FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE FUNDsouthafrica2010_info22@yahoo.co.ukCall him on phone +27-73-814-2200 SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WORLD CUP BID LOTTERY AWARD.PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATIONWe are pleased to inform you of the announcement made for the winners of the SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP BID BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD PROGRAMS, as part of our promotional draws.Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from all part of the world as part of our electronic business Promotions Program.Note that your email address qualified for the draw, as a result of your visiting various websites we are running the e-business promotions for. You/Your Company email address, attached to ticket number 100-309-7482, with serial number 513-10 drew the lucky numbers 3, 8, 13, 22, 27, 41 and Bonus number 12 and consequently YOU HAVE won in the Second Category.Your winning Ticket is Number. 343-221-8756
Your Serial Number. 454-17
Your lucky draw Numbers are. 4, 13, 21, 27, 36,38 Bonus Number 45
Your INSURANCE Number: FLS433/453L/GMSAYou have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$2,000,000.00 in cash, which is the winning payout for Second category winners. This is from the total prize money of US$26,000,000.00 shared among the thirteen(13) international winners in the Second category.Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US$2,000,000.00 is now in the wire system bank account insured with your email address together with your winning details which won you this prize, therefore you should contact your agent and give them your full names so that they will Remmite your winning fund to your bank account directly in any country of your choice. under your full names.Please note that your paying agent, will invite you to their office in Johannesburg South Africa for your immediate payment, you have to hurry up and contact them immediately.FILL AND SUBMIT TO THE FIDUCIARY AGENT FOR FOLLOW UP Provide him with the information below:
1.Name:.................................................
2.Address:.............................................
3.Marital Status:..................................
4.Occupation:........................................
5.Age:....................................................
6.Sex:.....................................................
7.Nationality:.........................................
8.Residence:..........................................
9.Telephone Number:...........................
10.Fax Number:.................................... 11. Winning Number:............................ 12. Ref Number:................................... 13.Serial Number:................................ 14. Amount Worn:................................ 15. Batch Number:.............................. 16. Insurance Number:.......................To begin your claim, please call your claim agent immediately, and also to send an urgent message to MR.MARK THAMBO. through Phone or Email: address southafrica2010_info22@yahoo.co.ukFOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
JOHANNESBURG 2001
SOUTH AFRICATELL :+27-73-814-2200.NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other information provided above and below in every one of your correspondences with your claims agent.REFERENCE NUMBER: GML-S343-KKT-8811BATCH NUMBER: 56T-DTH78-SAR99SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP BID INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD PROGRAM IS A BONUS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD FOR THE 2010 SOCCER WORLD .CONGRATULATIONS' ONCE AGAIN FROM ALL OUR STAFF AND LOTTERY BOARD MEMBERS.THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY.
2nd Floor SABC
Universal Building P.O. Box 91711,
Auckland Park, 2006 Henley Road.
Johannesburg, South Africa.Mrs. ROSLINE WILLIAMS Mr. MARK THAMBO Mr. Rudolf P. Markhams
(Zonal Co-ordinator Sec.) (CLAIM AGENT) (Zonal cordinator)Copyright © 1994-2006 The National Lottery Inc.
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Names of Scam / Fake / Fraud Lottery
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