Pembrokeshire hit by Lottery Scam

25th April 2008 8:13 PM

How many of you have received emails claiming that you have won the Lottery? I know my personal email inbox sees several on a weekly basis all suggesting I have won millions on the lottery and all I need to do is supply all my personal details including bank details.

People do fall for this type of scam and the latest news I have been reading is about Pembrokeshire County Councils Trading Standards warning residents of a lottery scam originating in Madrid and bearing Euro Stamps.

Obviously many local residents receiving the letters have been shocked as none of them recall buying tickets. Similar to the emails I receive the letters congratulate them on their win of enormous amounts of money and request the same details, name, address, bank details whilst informing the so called “winners” that as the lottery organisers they will be taking a commission.

The Trading Standards Manager for Pembrokeshire County Council, Nigel Watts said “Daily across the country people fall for this type of scam. Should you or someone you know receive notification of an unexpected lottery win or similar treat it as junk mail and dispose of it.”

The same team have also received multiple reports of email scams coming from as far and wide as Nigeria and China. They can range from the usual “you have won xxxxx millions on the lottery” to “I have had trouble tracing you and am sorry to inform you that xxxxxxx, a distant relative of yours….” leading to recipients believing they have a long lost relative who has left them millions in a will.

The best piece of advice to remember if you do receive any sort of notification of a big win, or large inheritance is to remember that it is very rare in life that you will be given something for nothing. Before passing any personal details on whether by email or post, always make 100% certain of the sender’s validity. Ask a family member or friend to take a look at it, contact Trading Standards. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

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