Are you really a Lucky Winner?
Every week we receive several dozen e-mails from our visitors asking us to investigate and analyze if they are indeed a big lottery winner or a winner of some other prize. We will try to guide you with extra information in hopes that you will become more informed and less gullible. We do not want our visitors to be victimized by sophisticated methods of fraud.
From the onset, we would like to tell you if you have not participated in a lottery by entering your name or buying a lottery ticket, you most likely cannot be a winner. All too often instead of being rational and coolheaded, you may think that you finally got an “opportunity of a lifetime”, even though all logic dictates that it is likely is a scam. While you ought to be optimistic, you ought not to be naive. Always keep in mind the wise saying: “When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is!”
According to Reuters News, one in ten Internet users fall victim to organized on-line fraud year-after-year, losing an average of over $1,300 each. Many failed to take basic steps to protect themselves, and most of the losses were never recovered.
The most common international lottery scam is an attempt to con unsuspecting victims into sending them money to pay “taxes” due for lottery winnings. The variations of it is to send money to pay for the “delivery” of necessary paperwork, “commission for transferring funds”, “claim transportation fees”, or other costs assosiated with “processing” of your claim. Upon receipt of payment (ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars), the victims are promised they will receive the lottery winnings. However, no such winnings ever arrive. This scam is perpetuated predominately through the e-mail, but the victims may also be contacted over the phone or regular mail.
Another type of scam is the Internet Check cashing or Sweepstakes Prize. Generally, you would never be asked to pay to enter a legitimate sweepstakes or to collect a prize. If you are asked to pay any kind of a fee, it is a good indication that the sweepstakes is a scam. The underlying principal in most situations remains the same – to steal your hard earned money!
What can you do to protect yourself?
- Never give anyone money or bank account information before collecting a prize; a legitimate prize company will not ask for money to declare you a winner
- Never give your credit card or bank information over the phone or e-mail to anyone claiming that you have won a prize or attempting to sell you a lottery ticket or membership
- Check with local ordinances to see if you can legally play a foreign lottery through the mail or over the phone without violating any laws
If after reading this you still are confused and still think you may have won, take your time and do your own research. Due to the overwhelming demand for our advocacy, we are not able to provide you with direct personal assistance. We ask you not write to us with questions concerning your specifics and do not forward us any copies or attachments of your winning notifications.
Since our observations and interpretations are based solely on the information provided by our visitors, we cannot be held responsible for any actions that may result in a possible rare risk of losing additional funds or non-disbursement of legitimate prizes.
Formalogy.com only offers a candid opinion based on comparison and research. The final outcome is entirely structured on your actions.
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