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Can five million Britians be duped? Yes, according to a study done by the British consumer protection organization Which?. Which? contacted more than 1000 Brits to see how widespread the scam problem is in the U.K. The results?
- More than 28 million of 60 million citizens had been exposed to one or more scams.
- Five million of those 28 fell victim to a scam.
- The most popular scam related to "an automated phone call that invites people to claim a prize. A third of adults have received such a call and two million have responded, usually by calling a premium-rate number, which can cost up to GBP 1.50 ($2.70 U.S.) a minute."
The funny thing is that I've even seen people outside the U.K. fall victim to these international lottery scams. Here's a typical email that arrived in our honeypot inbox this week:
As I was saying, I've received email from U.S. residents wondering if they'd really won after receiving an email like this. They never questioned how they'd won even though they weren't residents of the country where the lottery was held and had never even entered the lottery.
Greed makes us stupid, doesn't it? That's what the scammers count on.
UPDATE!
Many of you have also received snail mail versions of this scam. In this scam you receive a letter saying you've won as well as a check for $3,000 - $4,000 dollars to cover the taxes and processing fees - supposedly.
Anyway, listen up people.
This is a scam. The check is fake.
It may initially be accepted at your bank but will eventually be worth absolutely nothing. So when you deposit it and then send them a check from your account, you will lose money.
Ask yourself... Why would they send you a check and then have you send them a check right back for the same amount? Does that make sense? It does if you're trying to scam someone.
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456 Comments
tiffanie
well i was wondering did I win and how can I find out if i won .
Que Hsien Li
I received an email that notify me of winning #3 Million Pound Sterling on February 17th,2006.
Out of curiosity and suspicion I opened a new account with $50:only to facilitate for the claim of my wins.
I am planning to inform this sudden lottery win to the Toronto Police and I am waiting the next move from the so call National Lottery,British Lottery HQ in London.
Please advised whether I did the right thing to engaged them by providing my name,address and the new bank account of $50 dollars only.
QH
T.M.Eldo
am a Singapore resident, and today I got a similar email with a suspicious id originated from Canada stating that by my email id www selection won a lottery and to
give the details of self. Since I had an earlier encounter from another European Country even with banking details etc., and out of curiosity had called the given number
and every time the same person picked up the phone, and finally contacted the bank thru their web address and learnt that it was a scam.
Hence I glance thru the web page and find your web site which makes it clear that this too is a scam as I have never been to Britain and\or taken any lottery tickets.
Feel that this shud be given to the press to avoid wasting time and innocent people getting duped.
sarah
i am a u.s. resident and i recieved an email like the one mentioned above. as soon as i read it, i googled it, and came up with this website. the internet is a great tool to have s long as one knows how to use it to thier advantage.
Houman
I'm from Iran and I recieved an email like the one you mentioned in 22 feb 2006. and I also recieved another one today that has a payment form to fill and send them! so I search in google and find your page and find out what is going on!
beware of scams!
Humberto Escobar
recibi un mail que decia que habia ganado 500.000 libras; el punto es que mande un mail para que me explicaran mejor las cosas, y me respondieron diciendo que tenia que llenar un formulario y adjuntar una copia de mi pasaporte,,,,,felizmente entre a esta pagina web y me di con la ingrata sorpresa de que el mail era exactamente igual al que mencionan lineas arriba (british Loterry)..
hay que tener cuidado
TRANSLATION (from site admin Dave Nielsen):
I received an email that said I had won 500,000 pounds; the point is that they want you to send mail so that they can better explain things, and they responded saying that I had to fill out a form and to enclose a copy of my passport,,, happily I found this web site and I realized with the ungrateful surprise that the email I received was exactly like the one which they mention above (british Loterry).
You need to be careful out there...
tope ajayi
i also received a letter dat i won pls is it true
Flemming
Just received 1 today, searched for info like this, had a look at the mail displayed above and noticed a 'funny' thing that if I compare my 'winning notification' with the before mentioned, I notice that they use exactly the same 'ticket no.' and 'serial no.' You would have thought that they were a bit more intelligent!
Take Care!
K. Williams
They are also beginning to use regular "snail mail", so beware and pass this along!
B. Calhoun
Hey,So yeah I received one of those e-mails as well, what a jerk! But anyways I sent him a URL to one of the sites thats listed as scam!! Hope he enjoys that!!! haha!
I responded like an idiot, so now what can I do to prevent identity theft? What can awe all do after we responded?!
Dave
It's all about the information you gave them. If you provided money + private information like Name, Date of Birth, SSN, Bank Account #, etc. you should assume that you are at risk and should contact your local police along with the U.S. Secret Service (assuming you're a U.S. citizen).
A. Cable
My brother just received a check in the mail for the taxes and clearance fees for the sum of 90,000.00 he has just won. It also came with a letter from the United British Lotto asking that he call a number to speak with his representative. It made me a little uncomfortable because it said that he should keep this completely confidential to ensure that he receive the rest. He called the number (which turned out to be a Canadian number) and a woman said he needs to deposit the check into his account, let it clear, and then Western Union the money to a gentleman in Quebec. I am sckeptical as to whether or not this is the real deal. Please let me know if you know anything about this. Thanks a million; I appreciate it.
A. Cable
Oh, the check he received for taxes was $3,998.00, on the sum of $90,000.00 which he will not receive until completing the Western Union.
Anna Lou
I also received an e-mail informing me that I won in the british Lottery. I checked the name and I came up with this site. Thanks. This is the 2nd one I got. I also received one letter like this from a Citlink Lottery in France. This really isn't good. I hope these people get caught.
Dave
I had someone email about this scam the other day. Here was my response:
"How can you win a lottery that you don't enter?
lot·ter·y (l?t'?-r?)
n., pl. -ies.
1. A contest in which tokens are distributed or sold, the winning token or tokens being secretly predetermined or ultimately selected in a random drawing.
You can't win if you don't enter.
This is a scam. That check will be worthless. You will deposit it in your account and then mail them a real check, or more likely, they'll ask for a money order or wire transfer. Once the money you send clears, you'll hear later from your bank that the check you deposited from them is worthless. You are then out $3,000.
Do not send them any money or information,
dave"
supson sen
What I can't figure out is what do they gain by this?
Dave
They make money when you deposit their fake check and then wire the same amount to their account. In A. Cable's example above they make $3,998.00. Not bad.
Carlsbad,NM
I RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $1,998.94 IN THE MAIL ON MARCH 22,2006. THE CHECK STATED THAT I HAD TO PAY BACK $1,850.00 FOR MY TAX AND CLEARANCE FEES, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY TAXES TO PAY ON... I EVEN TOOK THE LETTER AND THE CHECK TO THE POLICE STATION, BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THE STUFF UNTIL SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.....WHAT KINDA OF POLICE DO WE HAVE??????? THE CHECK WAS AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENT...AND STILL SAYING THAT I SHOULD RECEIVE ($90,250.00)MINUS $4,750.00 (FOR SPONOR'S FEE)........HOW CRAZY IS THAT...IT ALSO SAID THAT I SHOULD CONTACT MY AGENT FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE REST OF MY WINNING....
Nick
They just sent me one saying I won through a weekly random draw of email addresses. Then I had to send them some info to nationalclaimsdept2@walla.com. What a scam. They even gave me an address for there offices. Apparently I just won 700 000 or so pounds sterling. Everyone send them evil thoughts and karma will collect for us.
Carey
My grandfather rec'd a letter dtd 3/15/06 with a check enclosed for $1998.95 from Demor's Lincoln Mercury, Inc. WOW, I work for a bank and would have been easily fooled by the check except for the fact that the watermark on the back of the check was missing. WHAT A SCAM. My grandfather is elderly and on a fixed income. He would have been happy to cash the check even without winning more. What a dissappointment for him when I told him it was a hoax. I would also be concerned if I were Demor's Loncoln Mercury, inc. IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO STOP THESE TYPE OF MAILINGS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. HE GETS APPROX 10 A DAY. HELPPPP!
John Doe
I received a letter dated 3/15/06 as well on March 27, 2006 with a check enclosed for $2998.95 from Demor's Lincoln Mercury, Inc. The check enclosed with the letter appeared to be very real and of course I was ready to take it to the bank until I realized that one, there was not a watermark seal on the back and two, I googled the company (United British LottO) and found that it is an identity theft scam. THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE STOPPED!!!!! IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO STOP THEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!!
John Doe
i received a letter from the british lotto also ... i have no idea how they got my name i received a check for 1,998.94 from vision limited partnership. it stated i will receive 90,250 and that i needed to contact cindy jacobs of standard financial management group, subsidiary of euro trust corporation, 145 southland dr s.e. suite 204 edmonton, ab t5s 2t1 tel 780-604-7351.
it was dated march 15, 2006
dean genco
i got a check for $2,998.95 from demor's lincoln mercury a really legit looking check but missing the watermark on the back. the united british lotto said i won 90,250.00 for an out of the country lottery that i never joined. demor's lincoln mercury is a real and legit comany in pittsburgh,pa. the address and phone number on the check are the same as on demor's web site. they want me to contact george davis of the standard financial management group,subsidary of euro trust corp, 145 southland dr s.e suite 204 edmonton,ab.t5s 2t1 tel 778-322-9831 dated march 15,2006
Tami
I too recieved this snail mail. I am not sure, currently, if this is a scam, but with all of the info I have read tonight, I will be checking into it more that for sure. The check I have is a legitamate check, including the watermark on the back. I checked out the check when we got the letter. The letter I got is similiar to others that ppl have been talking about, except my letter, along with the check also has a watermark on it. The watermark says British Lottery corporation on it. The company that issued the check, Quaker Window Products company is also a valid company. I definitely think I need to check things out a bit more before I am able to determine if this is a scam.
NO NAME
THIS UNITED BRITISH LOTTO IS THE BIGGEST SCAM EVER, WHOEVER KNOWS OF A WAY TO GET THEM CAUGHT THEY SHOULD DO IT AND DO IT FAST, CAUSE I ALMOST PUT MY CHECK I GOT INTO MY CHECKING ACCOUNT. UNTILL MY HUSBAND FOUND THIS SITE AND WE READ ALL OF THE STORIES, MY CHECK WAS SIMILAR TO SOME MENTIONED ABOVE. SO THAT UNITED BRITISH LOTTO REALLY NEEDS TO BE STOPPED, SO THEY CANT TAKE MONEY FROM PEOPLE WHO WILL FALL FOR IT LIKE I ALMOST DID. DONT FALL FOR THE UNITED BRITISH LOTTO A BIG HUGE SCAM, THANKS FOR THIS SITE OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE DONR IT.
NO NAME
well i thought in my time of need that i came into some lucky money ya right what ever they need to be stop and quickly this is not good for or anyone else i am glad that i went on this site
linda
I did receive a check like this today and felt something was wrong. the old saying if it sounds too good to true, well i called the contact and he was sooo rude, because i wanted him to explain all this to me. he got so mad at me that he hung up. please be aware that this is not a good thing to be doing. i am not even sure what i did to so called win this check. so please be careful of what you enter.
Joyce
I was so glad to read your comments before I became victim to the Lotto Scam. I also received a letter saying I was to receive $95,250 minus $$4,750 (Sponsor Commission). I knew something was wrong when they enclosed a check for $1,998.65 for tax and clearance fees to which I would have to pay $1,850 back. Why send me a check for me to send money right back to you! I just hope everyone else will be as cautious.
joe blow
I recieved one in the mail box today, it is a check Window World Inc. P.O. box 2294, Williston ND. 58801 (866-364-6963) the check was for $1,998.65 It said I won 95,000.00, and I was told to call a phone #, and find out how send $1850.00 "TAX AND CLEARANCE FEE".
My wife ever skeptable said "This looks like a scam, to get you to send money on a bad check. She was right.
shawn
British Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON
Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the British Lottery International programs held on the 1st March,2006 in London. Your e-mail address attached to ticketBritish Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON
Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the British Lottery International programs held on the 1st March,2006 in London. Your e-mail address attached to ticketBritish Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON
Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the British Lottery International programs held on the 1st March,2006 in London. Your e-mail address attached to ticketBritish Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON
Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the British Lottery International programs held on the 1st March,2006 in London. Your e-mail address attached to ticket made available from a total cash prize of GBP125 Million, shared amongst the first Fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.
This years Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for British Lottery. The estimated GBP125 million jackpot would be the sixth-biggest in U.K. history. The biggest was the GBP363 million jackpot that went to two winners in a May 2000 draw of The Big Game, Mega Millions' predecessor. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your GBP2,500,000.00 (Two million, five hundred thousand,pounds) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in London. Our agent will immediately commence the facilitation of release of funds to you as soon as you establish contact. All participants were selected randomly from world wide web sites through a computer drawn system and extracted from over 100,000 companies. This promotion takes place annually.
This is part of precautionary measures to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent with the below details for processing of your claims.
AGENT:EDWARDS BURT
TEL:+ 447040110822
Email:claimbritishlottery@shymail.com
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our designated agent. Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.
Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.
Sincerely,
JESSICA HARRISON
- British Lottery
What is up with this i need to know. Can some one tell me if this is the same scam im hearing about it looks to be and if so thats a bunch of crap
Frank of Orlando, Fl
Well, I just got a check from the United British Lotto for 2,998.75 also. As with the other "winners" they requested another amount to be sent back to their North American agent. This has got to be a scam!! What I would do to help out with the consumers in your area is to call a local TV channel and have them tell everyone through the media about this scam. Once you acknowledge the receipt of this check they have information of your name, address and bank account number. If you deposited this check in your account I would suggest you change accounts immediately. The more people who are aware of this crime the less possiblity of them hitting others. FIGHT BACK! SEND EMAILS TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY SO THEY WILL BE AWARE OF THIS SCAM ALSO.
No Name
I also received a check for 1998.94 and called in to the number and the lady told me to deposit the check I then knew it was a scam I just hope by calling the number wont hurt me in any way. Stay clear of the United British Lotto Scam Thank You for this website.
TRyanNewMexico
The scam's alive and well. I just got an email exactly like the one shown at the top of this column. Took a while to find your site with the warning. Glad you have the posting. Besides sending it to my SPAM folder I'll be on the lookout for other scams.
TRyan
M. Atchison
I called the company from which the check was issued, using the infomation I got from google search, and the checks are completely fraudulent!! The representative of Window World, Inc. said that thousands of these very official looking checks have been received by "winners", and are counterfeit. I was sure it was a fraud, considering the check was issued from an American bank account, the agent was in Candada, and the lotto was British!! But of course, I had to make sure, because I do enter many lotteries online, including the UK Lotto.
Maybe one of these days it will be real!!
M. Atchison
M
I got the snail mail. Ligit looking check for $2,998.65. Too good to be true.
After looking at this site I found a lot of other lotto fruad info. What can you do?
turn the entire letter to your local Post Master is what the USPS web page says.
Johnny
I just recieved this letter in the mail stating i had won $95,000 in the United British Lotto needless to say i was excited and already making plans with the money , there was also a check inclosed for $2,998 to cover the tax and clearance fees which looks totally real , they had me convinced that i had actually won said amount until i looked it up online and found out what was really going on thank goodness for the internet and this website otherwise i might have gotten scammed as well.Someone needs to do something about these ***holes trying to seperate hardwoking people from their money but i guess i will settle for karma coming back around and biting them in thier bull**** ***es!!
kaolee
I just received a "winning" document today....and I'm still curious if it's true! I just really don't know! This is the second document like that I have received! That document that I recently received was sent with a check! That check was valid!! Is that going to come back to me somehow?? I hope not! But it's really disturbing because it semms so fake as well! I did call also...but the answering machine "had no space left" for messages! Not understandable! Why not....is what I'm wondering!! But I don't know! I'm really doubting this thing!
Dave
No reason to doubt. It's a scam. Do not send money. Do not call. Do not collect $95,000 dollars.
pedro
be careful people they almost got me and I realised there is no such a thing as somthing for nothing
vinod
I RECEIVED WINNING MAILS SIMILARLY AND I RESPONDED TO IT.THEY GAVE ME AWARD CERTIFICATES,INSURANCE CERTIFICATES,AFIDAVIT COPIES.THEN I WAS ASKED TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT AT STANDARD BANK OF SOUTHAFRICA.FOR THE SAME I WAS ASKED TO TRANSFER US$1050 IN SOMEONE'S NAME.I ATTACHED THE SAME AND MAILED TO THE BANK,WHERE I WAS INFORMED THIS WAS A FAKE AND NOT TO RESPOND.SINCE I HAD MENTIONED THE NAME AND ACCOUNT NO OF THE PERSON NAMED PP.NGUPANE,I EXPECT THEM TO BE CAUGHT BEFORE CONTINUING THESE NONSENSE.
Kari
I received the letter and a check for 1998.65--Yes it looks like a ligit check--What would happen if we all deposited the check and never contacted them for further instructions?
Pio
Dear,
If someone from foreign country had ben victim of scam with lost of money ( about 7,000,00 Euros) what is possible to do ?
Especially victim from saying "iwon lottery fo liverpool" IN APRIL 2005
As a people from an west african country, but staying in on french department island and bristich island when had been victim, he report to certains institutions, such as Nigeria Scam the 419, and others, without no reply.
wHAT ELSE DO ,
almost duped
I recieved the same letter as A. Cable, I took my letter to the local FBI agency, and they said anything with the letterhead United British Lotto is a scam, they would not give me a definitive answer on whether to cash the check or not though. If anyone has any more info on this, please let us know....
Dave
To Almost Duped...
Anyone needing more information about cashing that check after reading this page and visiting with the FBI is EXTREMELY hard of hearing.
Why would you want a fake check? What is the point? Just accept that you have not won any money and you will not get any money by trying to deposit a fake/worthless check.
Just continue your life being happy knowing you avoided being conned. That should be enough.
Maritza
I just recieved this letter in the mail stating i had won $95,000 in the United British Lotto needless to say i was excited and already making plans with the money , there was also a check inclosed for $2,998 to cover the tax and clearance fees which looks totally real , they had me convinced that i had actually won said amount until i looked it up online and found out what was really going on thank goodness for the internet and this website otherwise i might have gotten scammed as well.Someone needs to do something about these holes trying to seperate hardwoking people from their money but i guess i will settle for karma coming back around and biting them in thier bull
Sassy
Have all of you people lost your marbles? Anytime you get lottery emails with a foreigm return phone number starting with 44 you should delete it immediately. If you ever need to check the legitimacy of any illegal lottery information, please do yourselves a favor and go to the website "lottery scams.com" - that site is updated every day with the latest scams.
ADMIN NOTE: Not sure which site you were trying to link to, but both the ones I saw are pretty scammy all on their own (Casino site or one with just all ads). Please email info@fightidentitytheft.com if you actually have a valuable resource to share.
Cajamarca, Jose Ohio
Dont be fooled by this scam. i received a letter from the british lotto also … i have no idea how they got my name i received a check for 1,998.94 from vision limited partnership. it stated i will receive 90,250 and that i needed to contact Regina Jones of standard financial management group, subsidiary of euro trust corporation, 145 southland dr s.e. suite 204 edmonton, ab t5s 2t1 tel 4033977816.
it was dated march 20,2006
j.anderson
I received a letter from United British Lotto along with a check for $2,998.75 from Window Products Company. Things don't add up. I'll be reporting this to law enforcement officials and will do whatever they need me to do to catch these guys.
I'm glad I found this sight and that other people commented on their receiving a letter like this. It helps me to determine that it is a scam!
I hope these people are caught and spend the rest of their lives repaying those who were duped into believing this!
tvitems
me too. I received the same exact letter from United British Lotto with a check of $2,998.75 from Window Products. I called them and they told me to cash the check and send them the $ as well, and then I will get the rest $95,000 or something.
Who should I report this to? Will law enforcement officials do anything?
I am glad I found this site.
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