British Lottery Scam

We got our letter yesterday, complete with a check that appears to be drawn on a Merrill Lynch/Chase account. Fantastic job of scamming, but if you read the letter carefully enough, you should spot that it's bogus. Check the bottom passage especially:

"Special Notice! This award program has come to the public notice and in order to avoid unauthorized organizations, individuals contacting you, please ensure that this winning is kept absolutely confidential."

Okay, now I know that the English and the Americans don't exactly agree on how to use the language we share, but nobody in either country would stick the phrase "individuals contacting you" between two commas. That's bad English no matter which side of the pond you're on. Most scams can be spotted because of simple mistakes like this one. Hey, yet another reason to pay attention in school. Sorry, I'm an English teacher. I just couldn't resist the plug for my profession.

Anyway, the "British Lotto" can bloody well bugger off. I'm sending notice to the FBI and Secret Service about this. It seems a call to Merrill Lynch and Chase bank would be in order, too. The scammers are trading on the names of those institutions.

WELL AS FOR ME IM ONE OF THOSE THAT FELL FOR. BIG DREAMS NO MONEY.
I ACTUALLY DEPOSITED MY CHECK BUT AFTER READING EVERYONES REPORT NO
ONE HAD A CHECK FROM UNIVERSATY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. I DID RESEARCH
AND THEY DO HAVE ORGANIZATIONS OF DONATING FUNDS. UNFORTUNATELY I
DEPOSITED MY CHECK AND JUST WAITING ON THE OUT COME. IF ITS GOOD I
HAVE $4000.00 FOR ME THAT CAN BE USEFUL FOR MY BILLS. AT LEAST I WONT
LOOSE THAT MONEY! ITS A COINCIDENSE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE SAME REF#,
WINNER#, AND BATCH#. AND ITS TRUE I ALSO HAVE LISTED SUITE 204.
ITS A FRAUD, A SCAM.

I RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY FROM UNITED BRITISH LOTTO. INFORMING ME I HAD WON 95,000 DOLLARS. ALONG WITH A CHECK FOR $ 2993.53,THE CHECK LOOKS AUTHENTIC EXCEPT NO WATERMARK. IT IS FROM NORTHWEST AIRLINES ,US BANK E. GRAND FORKS ,MICH. THE LETTER WAS LIKE THE ONE MALINDA RECEIVED, THE WINNER NO. WAS IDENTICAL,AND THE REF. AND BATCH NO. WERE IDENTICAL SAVE AN ADDITION OF AN ADDITIONAL LETTER TO EACH.IT SAYS TO CONTACT CHRIS RICHARDS AT APEX. FINANCIAL,EDMONTON ALBERTA.IT HAD ME GOING FOR A MINUTE,THANK GOD FOR THIS BLOG. i AM GOING TO PURSUE THIS MATTER,THROUGH USPS,ATT.GEN ,FBI ,AND ANYONE ELSE I CAN THINK OF,I HOPE THEY CATCH THESE LOW LIFES

Don't just rip up the check, call the bank that is the payer of the funds that is on the front of the check. That's what I did. I faxed them a copy of the letter and the check and they verified that it is a scam and the check was stolen. They asked me to send them a typed up version of the conversation I had when I called them. This is the best way we can help stop this terrible crime!

I RECIEVCED A LETTER AND A CHECK AND I DEPOSITED INTO MY ACCOUNT ALREADY. BUT THE BANK PUT THE CHECK ON HOLD. COULD THIS BE CONCITERED AS FRAUD.

Well my husband just received a letter from the British Loto, and he was a bit surprised and stated that the check and letter look legit. I told him that they want you to deposit the check, send them the money they are requesting and in the meantime this check will bounce. I am so glad that I knew it was a scam. My husband did call, found out that it was a Canada phone number. The receptionist answered and said that it was a holiday today in Canada and that he should call back on Monday. Funny isn't it!!I wonder if the tel # can be tranced and the peopole prosecuted? The funny thing too is the check was dated April 10th and the deadline to call was yesterday and we received the letter today. I guess it's their way of getting you to call them ASAP, because who wants to miss out on winning $95,000 by one day.

Thanks a million. They almost got me. If it wasn't for you website, I would have been doomed. I called them to let them know that I notified my lawyer, they hung up the phone.

I have just got a scam mail. Which says that I got a amaount of over 5 million dollars.

Almost cashed this check.

Thanks to this web site

No checks will be cashed, and all ifo ripped up

I RECIEVED THE CHECK AND THE LETTER JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. THE CHECK IS DRAWN ON THE SAME BANK THAT I BANK IN. I AM GOING TO SHOW IT TO MY BANK AND ASK THEM WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS SCAM. I SEE EVERYONE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE, BUT I WONDER WHO HAS ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IF YOU HAVE RECIEVED THESE DOCUMENTS. CAN THESE PEOPLE BE STOPPED? HOW DO THEY GET OUR NAMES AND ADDRESS'S? IT IS VERY SCARY AND SADLY I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THESE PEOPLE. THANK YOU TO WHOM EVER FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS ABD INFORMING PEOPLE. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE TO FIND OUT SOME INFO ON THIS AND ALL I DIDWAS TYPE IN THE ADDRESS AND I CAME TO THIS SITE. THANKS AGAIN.

I got a letter from united british lottery. I was so excited at first. I am a hard working mother of three who has been through hard times and staying with family now. i thought it was great that i could finally provide my children with what they wanted.until i called them up and the lady sounded shady. I am very upset that people can scam people that really need the money and are only looking for a brighter future.

I knew it was bogus becuz why the hell would thet tell me to send money from my account for taxes when they sent me a check. Its BS without a dought.NOBODY SEND THEM ANYTHING PLEASE SCAM ALERT..iTS JUST LIKE MY DADDY USED TO SAY IF ITS SEEMS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE NOT IT PRABABLY IS IT IS!!!!!!!!!!

I JUST GOT MY CHECK TODAY, YOU KNOW When YOU'RE BROKE - AND ON DISABILITY IT IS SO TEMPTING. i have to say these ****** are getting watermarks and all. ANY THING TO GOOD TO BE TRUE... IS. #2980.95 AND I ONLY HAVE $5.00 IN MY ACCOUNT, I WISH I COULD SUE THE ******, IAM CONTACTING CHANNEL 7 ON YOURSIDE, I REALLY NEED MONEY, HEY DON'T WE ALL. i just had a stroke in Feb 2005, after working for 23 years at a newspaper and now collecting disability and no health insurance im not old enough for medicare, this would be so nice if it was real, thank god I am computer literate. everything on this check is legit. i called and checked out everything. HOW DO THEY DO THIS, IF THRY'RE THAT SMART THEY PROBABLY COULD BE MAKING A LOT MORE MONEY. BOY WHAT A SCAM I WON $70,000 WHICH I WILL RECEIVE IN A CERTIFIED BANK CHECK i have until May 5. I HAVE TO CALL JENNIFER HARPER AT 1-604-832-1609 GLOBAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT VANCOUVER CANADA ALLEN WRIGHT IS THE PRIZE DIRECTOR UNITED BRITISH LOTTO. i am supposed to keep all this cofidential. how ridiculous. iam really going to make some noise.

I will not believe that Bill Gates would stand by and let his name be put on and used by British lotteries to make him look bad. I have been informed that I won a great deal of money through the British lottery but I do believe that Bill Gates can and will allow my winning to be authorised. He certainly can afford it. Also, he is not going to have his good reputation and software reputation slandered by failing to hold to a promise of authorizing my cheque. My letter was from the British Lottery too, but the difference in my letter and all of the above mentioned is that mine has Gates name mentioned and all the latter do not. Did I really win because Bill's name is on Mine? Do I even have the same scam? Can these scammers use Bill Gates name to convince me that I really won, or do you think I really won? Please, would someone who knows anything about this let me know if we are talking about the same fradulant lottery?

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CASH YOUR CHECK! YOU WILL BE CASHING A FRAUDULENT CHECK FROM A REAL COMPANY THAT IS ALSO BEING CAUGHT UP IN THIS SCAM! THE CHECK MIGHT EVEN CLEAR BUT ONCE THE FUNDS ARE TAKEN THE REPUTIABLE COMPANY WILL FIND OUT THAT UNATHOURIZED FUNDS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED FROM THEIR ACCOUNTS. YOU WILL ULTIMATELY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAD CHECK SINCE YOU ENDORSED IT! DON'T DO IT! RIP IT UP, SEND IT TO THE MEDIA, LET EVERYONE KNOW. YOU WILL NOT GET ANYTHING OUT OF CASHING A BAD CHECK BUT MORE BILLS AND HEADACHES! ME & MY FIANCE HAVE THE SAME CHECK AND LETTER! WE DREAMED FOR A MINUTE, BUT ME BEING A SINGLE MOM AND KNOWING BLESSINGS DON'T COME IN THE FORM OF A CHECK! GOOGLED THE LETTER HEAD! THANK YOU LORD FOR BLESSING ME WITH COMMON SENSE! I AM TRULY BLESSED! I MAY NOT HAVE $ BUT THANKS TO GOD'S TRUE BLESSING I STILL HAVE THE LITTLE BIT I DO, STILL IN THE BANK! DON'T CASH THE CHECK, NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE HURTING YOURSELF BUT THE COMPANY THE CHECK HAS BEEN FRAUDED FROM! EVEN THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERY IS A SCAM! MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL, MAN BUT IT SURE PAYS THE BILLS! YOUR GOOD FORTUNE HAS COME WITH THIS WEB-SITE FULL OF INFO! GOD BLESS EVERYONE & BE THANKFUL THAT GOD BLESSED YOU WITH ENOUGH SENSE TO CHECK THINGS OUT!

OH and my check does have a watermark on back of it. THey must be getting smarter

I GOT CHECK I DEPOSTIED THE CHECK IN THE BANK AND I DID RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND NOTHING POPPED UP.BUT I CASHED THE CHECK AND MONEY WAS DEPOSITED AND THE BANK CLEARED THE CHECK AND I WAS ABLE TO RECIEVE MONEB.AND A FEW DAYS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE CHECKE WAS SENT BACK.NOW I WOULD LIKE TO KNO IF I HAVE TO PAY THE MONEY TO THE BANK OR WILL I GET INTO SOME KIND OF TROUBLE.HOW WILL I GO ABOUT RESOLIVNG THIS PROBLEM.

To all those who received a 'Winning Letter' for $95,000- Please do not be duped! We receives a similar letter couple of days ago along with a check for $2850. we deposited the check and carried away by the tricky words of the woman we spoke with, we also sent the moneygram to the so called agent for almost $3000 yesterday. After that today Casually I searched for this lotto company online and learnt about all the scams. w immediately called the Moneygram Central number 1-800-moneygram, and we were surprised to learn that our money was not yet received. And we cancelled the transaction and got the full amount back . We're lucky we did not lose. Don't ever try this out!!!

My spouse received a check & notification from the United British Lotto. The certificate from the Lotto proclaimed that she won $95,000 USD. The Check was for $2998.85 USD. We did a little research & found many articles on this & this BLOG. This is a SCAM. I am not a trusting person in the first place, but I am convenced of my findings.
This is where you fall into the trap. First of all, you write your account # with your name on the back of the check (bad). Then your bank withdraws the money from the account (if the account is real on the check). Then the bank sends the check back to the originating bank. It then goes back to the person who wrote the check (REALLY BAD). Then they have your account #. My advice to you, 1. close your account. 2. Contact your local authorities & let them know about this. Also, contact the news paper or local news agency (without embarrassing yourself) & report the Scam. Education is the key to prevent others from getting caught in the deceit.

One more thing. YOU as a citizen of whatever nation you are from, report these SCAMS. It is now your responcibility to let everyone know about this. Please do not get taken on this. Also, the one my spouse received was mailed from Canada. Be careful.

My check came from Bank of America. The "sponser" is a legitamate Insurance Company from California with its logo on
the check. The companies name is Apria Healthcare and can be found on google. I am reporting them to the California Insurance
Commissioner. My solicitation material check and letter are exactly the same as the one on this website. Lets get them!

Ijust got the letter today and went to google and to this site. im a two time third grade cancer patient and do not need this bull dumped on me while i am fighting for my life thanks for this web site. hope nobody ever has to go through cancer and sure do not need to be scammed thaks

This looks like a wide spread scam. I received my letter on April 19,2006. I opened the envelope while warming up my car, and at first I couldn't stop chucking at what I was reading! What a "PHONEY" set up this turned out to be! In the course of my travels that day, I stopped by my local bank. I finished doing my bank business and found that the bank manager wasn't busy at the time so I let them read the letter. The first thing they said was that the check was "BOGUS"! At this point they made copies and would refer them to there security department. They were concerned that the elderly would fall for this scam and lose there savings. I only hope the message of this reaches as many people as possible so that they will avoid getting taken. My "THANKS" for having this website.
Chino,CA
I wish the tables could turn and and this scam would backfire in there faces!

SALUTATIONS EVERYONE,

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT THIS SCAM HAS NOT ONLY AFFECTED ME BUT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. I RECEIVED ABOUT 4 EMAILS A MONTH IN REFERENCE TO WINNING SOME SORT OF LOTTERY. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ONE DAY FROM THE SAME MAN WHOSE NAME IS ON THE LETTER THAT I RECEIVED TODAY STATING THAT I HAD WON THE UNITED BRITISH LOTTERY AND THAT THE AMOUNT I HAD WON WAS $95,000. IT STATES I AM SUPPOSE TO DEPOSIT THE CHECK FOR $2,998.95 AND SEND THEM A CERTAIN AMOUNT. WELL I DID MY HOME WORK AND CONTACTED THE BANK (BANK OF AMERICA) WHOSE NAME WAS ON THE CHECK AND ALSO THE COMPANY BAKER DISTRIBUTOR WHO IS LOCATED IN JACKSONVILLE WHO IS SUPPOSEDLY THE ONE WHO SENT THE CHECK AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CHECKS WERE REAL BUT THAT THEY HAD BEEN STOLEN FROM THIS COMPANY AND THEY HAD PUT A FRAUD ALERT OUT AT THE BANK ABOUT THIS. WHEN I CALLED THE BANK THOUGH I WAS A LITTLE SUPRISED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT A FRAUD ALERT WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT THE ACCOUNT THE CHECK WAS DRAWN UP ON AND I CALLED TWO BANK OF AMERICA BANKS TO CHECK THIS OUT. I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING RIGHT THEN. LUCKILY I DID NOT CASH THE CHECK BUT I AM TAKING THE CHECK TO THE BANK TOMORROW FOR THEM TO FOLLOWUP ON AND PERSUE.

MY PROBLEM WITH ALL THIS IS WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT NOT STEPPING IN AND TRYING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THIS HAS BECOME A MAJOR SCAM. IT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCAMS IN HISTORY. THEY ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO WHICH THIS SO CALLED LOTTERY IS SUPPOSE TO BE FOR. YOU WOULD THINK THAT IF THEY WORKED TOGETHER TO TRY TO CATCH THESE CROOKS THAT THIS MIGHT PUT A LITTLE FEAR IN THESE PEOPLE AND THEY WOULD BE SOMEWHAT AFRAID TO EVEN SEND THESE THINGS OUT. IF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK OF ALL THE MONEY AND HARDSHIP THIS HAS CAUSED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SCAMMED BY THIS THEY WOULD MAKE THIS A FEDERAL OFFENSE AND REALLY CRACK DOWN ON THE BAD GUY, BUT, UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT REALLY TAKE THIS MATTER SERIOUS IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

THERE ARE REAL LOTTERIES OUT THERE AND THERE ARE REAL CONTEST OUT THERE BECAUSE I KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE WON. BUT IT IS SAD TO SAY THAT THIS JUST MAKES IT HARDER FOR ANYONE TO TRUST AND BELIEVE IN THESE THINGS ANYMORE. YOU DON'T WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS NOT WITH ALL THE SCAMS GOING ON TODAY. ALSO, IF THE BANKS WOULD LEARN TO WORK WITH THE VICTIMS/PEOPLE OF THESE SCAMS INSTEAD OF PUNISHING THEM FOR WHAT THE BAD GUYS ARE DOING BY HOLDING THEM REPSONSIBLE FOR CASHING THE CHECKS WHEN IN FACT IT IS THE BANKS WHO ARE SUPPOSE TO BE TRAINED TO CATCH THESE BAD CHECK IN THE FIRST PLACE IN STEAD OF CASHING THEM AND THEN MAKING YOU PAY FOR IT. ARE THEY NOT SUPPOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDS ARE IN THE ACCOUNT THAT THIS CHECK IS DRAWN UP ON BEFORE THEY CASH THEM. ARE THEY NOT SUPPOSE TO PUT A HOLD ON THESE CHECKS AND THEN CLEAR THEM AFTER THE MONEY IS THERE. WHY SHOULD THE POOR INNOCENT PEOPLE BE THE ONES TO SUFFER AND HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE OF THE CRIME FOR THE THIEVES OUT THERE?

I REST MY CASE BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS A NO WIN SITUATION AND THE ONLY ONE WHO PAYS THE PRICE IS PEOPLE LIKE US WHO ARE VULNERABLE TARGETS OF THEIVES LIKE THESE LOTTERY FRAUDS. ANYWAY, PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU SEE THESE THINGS,DON'T CASH THE CHECKS BUT DO TAKE THEM TO THE BANKS AND LET THEM HANDLE THE MATTER. MAYBE IF EVERYONE WHO RECEIVES A LOTTERY SCAM TOOK THE CHECKS IN TO THE BANKS AND THEY GET OVERWHELMED ENOUGH FROM THIS MAYBE THEY WILL GET TIRED AND REALLY TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MAYBE EVEN THEY WILL BEGIN TO CRY OUT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND HAVE THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. UNTIL THEN STOP AND THINK, THE WORD WIN MEANS TO GET SOMETHING - NOT TO HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING! I WISH EVERYONE MUCH SUCCESS IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SLIP THROUGH THE FINGERS OF THESE CROOKS WITHOUT GETTIGN NABBED.

I AM ON MY WAY TO KEN AMARA, FIRST COAST NEWS TO REPORT THE SCAM I RECEIVED SO OTHERS HERE WILL KNOW AND I ASK THAT YOU DO THE SAME IN YOUR STATE OR CITY! GOOD LUCK!!!!

MY WINNINGS WAS ALSO 90,000 DOLLORS SO PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST RECIEVING THESE LETTERS AND CHECKS PLEASE DON'T DEPOSIT IT DON'T DO NOTHING WITH IT CAUSE YOU AND ONLY YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.CAUSE WHAT I FORGOT TO METION IN MY FIRST STATEMENT WAS AFTER PUTTING THAT CHECK IN MY BANK I HAD TO CHANGE BANKS CAUSE THEY THINK THAT I'M DOING SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT SUPPOSE TO BE DOING EVEN THOUGH I CLEARLY KNOW THAT IT WASN'T ME SO WATCH OUT FOR YOURSELF'S AND THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.

LORRAIN M. SCANLAN

More on my previous post. I am in the middle of a law suit for my broken legt and thought it was an insurance company plot for a quick pay off.
The check is written on the Sutter Health Group, Sacramento Sierra Region.
at $2,998.50 for tax and clearance fee, I am to write a check for $2,850 and I have 6 days left or it is null & void. My promised payout is $95,000.
At first I thought I signed up online somewhere, until I found this web site.