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Lottery Scams: Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V.
Lottery Scam Email:
Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V.
"Pieter Nowotny", "Trevor Browne of BENTLEY HUGHES ASSOCIATES"
Have you received an email from "Pieter Nowotny" at "Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V." telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "Trevor Browne of BENTLEY HUGHES ASSOCIATES" to collect your winnings? Interestingly, they sent this scam to a woman in India, the lottery is supposedly based in Germany, yet they tell her to come to England to claim her "prize". Of course, they know she will say she can't travel to England , and then they will offer her the "option" of sending her a check or wiring it to her bank - and in each case, she will have to pay "fees" first! It is a scam. No legitimate, legal lottery is allowed to charge winners ANY fees, nor do they notify winners vian email! 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 "Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V.".
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:
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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!"
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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 from Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V. (One example - the scammers constantly change names, dates and addresses!):
Sulzburgstr.140
Cologne D-50937 Germany
REF. NUMBER: GSB/0025/03/06
BATCH NUMBER: ASB/SP/021/AP-JY
Dear Sir/Ma/Miss,
RE: GOODWILL SWEEPSTAKES AND BONANZAS, The Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V. is a Non-Governmental Organisation based in Cologne Germany. In furtherance to its commitment to community development and support for good causes in the arts, sports, heritage, health, education, environment, charity, internet awareness and financial empowerment, is conducting the Goodwill Sweepstakes and Bonanzas.
CONGRATULATIONS!
We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen as a WINNER in the first quarter draws held on 29th January, 2007. Your email address attached to ticket with serial number 00682373 drew the winning numbers 13-32-24-31-14-30. You have therefore been approved for a pay out of E2,000,000.00 (two million euros only). Please be informed that all participants in this sweepstakes programme have been selected randomly through a computer ballot system with millions of entrants sourced using search engines and web sites.
To file for your claims please contact the designated claims agent below:
TREVOR BROWNE,
BENTLEY HUGHES ASSOCIATES LIMITED
ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
email: bentley_hughes@myway.com
All winning claimes must be filed not later than March 30, 2007, after this date, unclaimed prizes will be revoked. Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland accepts no liability for unclaimed prizes or the processing of inaccurate account details or due to any technical failure(s) or otherwise. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications endeavour to quote your reference and batch numbers in your first correspondence. Furthermore, should therebe any change of address inform your agent as soon as possible.
Please do not reply to this mail, contact your claims' agent. Also you are automatically disqualified if you are below 18years of age. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform your agent as soon as possible.
Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.
Sincerely,
Pieter Nowotny
INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
ASB & Bentley Hughes Associates
The victim received a few more emails, then finally this:
Dear Madam,
I am pleased to inform you that the verification exercise has been concluded satisfactorily and your status as a winner has been confirmed. Consequently, you have been issued an prize certificate stating your prize winnings of €1,000,000, a copy is attached to this mail.
Arbeiter Samriter Bund will pay the winnings in 7 installments, the first installment will be for one-quarter of your total winnings and you shall receive the outstanding amount spread out in six equal yearly payments.
The Winners Pack will contain;
1. The covering letter.
2. A congratulatory letter from Arbeiter Samariter Bund containing its instructions, terms of payment, liabilities and obligations.
3. The award certificate.
4. Winner's plaque
5. A cheque issued in your favour.
You are thus advised to make preparations towards coming to London, England to personally sign-off to claim the cheque. For your information, because this project is a philanthropic activity, provisions were made to ensure confirmed winners receive enough support, financially and otherwise, to complete all required procedures.
On behalf of Arbeiter Samariter Bund and Bentley Hughes Associates, accept our warmest congratulations. Acknowledge this mail by replying immediately. I await your response.
Yours faithfully,
Trevor Browne
BENTLEY HUGHES ASSOCIATES
13 BRUNSWICK GARDENS ILFORD LONDON IG6 2QU
ENGLAND FAX: 44 87 0133 4161
The scammers also attached a copy of a bogus "certificate of winnings":
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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