The "2017 Euro Raffle Promotion" email message below, which claims the recipients have won the Euro Raffle Promotion held in 2017 through a Computer Ballot Draw held in Europe, is another EuroMillions lottery scam. The fake email message is being sent by lottery scammers to trick the recipients into believing that they are EuroMillions winners, and to trick them into sending their personal information in order to claim their so-called prizes. But, once personal information is sent to the lottery scammers, they will call their potential victims and ask them to send money, which they will claim is for taxes and other fees, in order to claim their so-called prizes. Therefore, recipients of email messages or other forms of messages that claim they are lottery winners should never send their money in order to claim lottery prizes. Legitimate lottery companies do not request money from their winners or ask them to make any form of payments for taxes and other fees.
The ''2017 Euro Raffle Promotion'' Lottery Scam
From: "Euro Raffle" <euroclaims404@myfairpoint.net>
Date: 10 June 2017 at 11:31:33 BST
Subject: Winner
Attention: Prize Winner.
Congratulations! Your E-mail was confirmed as the WINNER of €2,000,000.00 Euros from Euro Raffle Promotion held in 2017 through a Computer Ballot Draw HELD in Europe.
FILL FORM FOR CLAIMS
1.FULL NAMES:
2.ADDRESS:
3.SEX:
4.AGE:
5.MARITAL STATUS:
6.OCCUPATION:
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:
We await your informations soon.
Regards, Maria Gabriela Sanchez (Claim Mgr)
Euro Raffle Promotion
Here are some important tips from EuroMillions to help prevent you from becoming a victim of lottery scams:
How to Identify a EuroMillions Lottery Scam
- It is not possible to win a EuroMillions prize, raffle, sweepstake or competition that you have not entered.
- To win a EuroMillions prize, you MUST have purchased a ticket for the correct draw date and your number selection MUST match the balls required to win the relevant prize.
- EuroMillions DO NOT offer prizes based on randomly selected mobile phone numbers or email addresses for games which individuals DID NOT ENTER.
- EuroMillions will not contact you directly if you win a prize. It is up to you to claim the prize and provide a winning ticket for the lottery in question.
- EuroMillions will not ask you to pay any type of 'fee' to receive your prize.
- EuroMillions will not ask you to pay the 'tax' due on the win in advance of receiving a prize.
Clues to Identify a Scam
All of the points listed below are usually a good indication that the winning notification you have received is a scam:
- The email has been sent from a free webmail address (for example @hotmail.com, @outlook.com or @yahoo.com) or from an unrelated address that could have been compromised.
- The letter or email does not address you personally but instead starts with something vague like 'Dear Winner'. However, as scams become more advanced, many fraudsters have gained access to mailing information and it may be addressed directly to you.
- Scam letters are often of poor quality, photocopied letterhead (although some will include a genuine business address in an attempt to provide legitimacy). It is worth noting that not all scam letters are of a low quality; scammers are constantly updating and improving technology so their messages may appear more legitimate.
- There is often a strict time limit to claim the 'prize'. This is intended to put the potential victim under pressure and deter them from seeking advice or investigating the matter further.
- Confidentiality is often demanded as a 'condition of winning'. Again, this is to deter the recipient from seeking the advice of friends or family who may be more familiar with this type of scam.
- The communication may contain complicated language and jargon in an attempt to baffle the reader and give the document an ‘official’ feel.
- Poor spelling, grammar, and syntax are usually a good indication that the letter or email is a scam.
- A photocopy of a cheque with your name on it may be contained within the communication to entice you into sending funds, something which real lotteries would never do.
What to do if you have received a Scam
If you receive a letter or email which claims that you have won a EuroMillions prize, raffle, sweepstake or competition that you have not entered, it is strongly recommended that you:
- DO NOT send any money
- DO NOT open any link contained in a suspicious email
- DO NOT respond to any suspicious email or letter
- DO NOT disclose any personal or financial information whether by email, letter or over the phone
- IF you have already responded, break off contact with the fraudster immediately
- IF you have provided personal or financial details, alert your bank immediately
- REPORT it to your local authorities who will provide further information on how to proceed as well as providing advice if you suspect you have been targeted.