Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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Have you received an email from "Susan Henk" at "KRASLOTEN LOTTOI NTERNATIONAL" telling you that "your email address won in the second category" or something similar, and to contact "MR.JAS VAN ROODE" to collect your winnings? 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! This is an identical email to this Kraslotten scam - notice how they ONLY changed minor details like the date - making the "21st of February" into the "21th of March"... whatever the "21th" is! And the return email address? They were probably blocked by the previous provider. Did you also catch the spacing problem in the name, failing to separate the "Lotto" from "International" correctly?
Below is another example of a fake lottery; this email claims to be from the "KRASLOTEN LOTTOI NTERNATIONAL".
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 sweepstakes and lotteries THRIVE on publicity - they don't want you to keep anything secret - the publicity causes people to enter or buy more of their products. 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!"
Require the winner to pay - U.S. federal law prohibits sweepstakes from charging you for anything, not "delivery", couriers, taxes, fees, handling charges, or anything else!
Here is a typical scam sweepstakes winning notification.
From: Susan henk : henk_susan306@hotmail.com
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
CONTACT MR.JAS VAN ROODE.
FROM:KRASLOTEN LOTTOI NTERNATIONALPROMOTION PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF: TL/0534/30/06
BATCH:75/011/INL
Dear Winner,
Following official publication of results of the Email electronic on line Sweepstakes organized by the Krasloten lotto corporation, the Slide circular award and the Heineken prizes in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.), held on the 21th of March 2007, in Den-Haag The Netherlands, wherein your electrononic email address emerged as one of the online winning emails in the 1st category and therefore attracted a cash award of US$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars Only).
We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the processing office immediately upon receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you.
It is important to note you that your award information was released today with the following particulars attached to it.
(I) Reference Number:TL/0534/30/06
(ii) Ticket Number: TL754/22/76
(iii)Batch Number: 75/011/INL
(iv)Lucky Number: 2-20-29-41-49
(v)Award: Number:TL 22/15409
Please contact the claim agents within 5 working days to facilitate the release of your prize, You are required to mention the above particulars of your award in every correspondence addressed to the processing agents.
CONTACT NAME: MR.JAS VAN ROODE.
CITY/ COUNTRY: DEN-HAAG, THE NETHERLANDS.
TEL: +31-616-585-017
EMAIL: krasagency@aim.com
The Grouplotto Awards is sponsored by a consortium of software promotion companies. The Intel Group,Toshiba,Dell Computers, Microsoft and other international companies.
The Grouplotto internet draw is held periodically and is so organized to encourage the use of the internet and promote computer literacy worldwide. We are proud to say that over 20 Million Dollars are won annually in more than 150 countries worldwide. Rememer, all winning must be claimed not later than 5th of April, 2007.
Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch number in all correspondence.
Once again on behalf of all our staff,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Susan Henk
Promotions Coordinator
Click here for the huge list of the names of the currently identified lottery scams companies
* Re: emails of winnings. We know of only ONE exception in the world to this rule - and if you bought a ticket from them, you would know it, and would not be questioning it.