Foreign lottery scam warning

Monday, December 07, 2009 posted 11:53 AM EST

A SCAM which claims recipients have won a big cash prize on a foreign lottery has prompted Sandwell Trading Standards to warn householders in Great Barr and Hamstead to be on their guard.

The 'Euromillones Loteria International' swindle targets potential homes with an award notification/final notice sent to their home stating they have won several hundred thousand Euros and that in order to claim their prize they have to fill in and fax back a payment processing form.

The con, which originated in Spain, includes a form which asks for bank details and personal information, such as the person's address, telephone number, date of birth and occupation, which are then used to raid the victim's account.

Bob Robinson, Sandwell's Trading Standards manager, warned recipients not to fall for its claims.

"Under no circumstances should anyone reveal details of their bank account, debit card or credit card to anyone that contacts them in this way," he said.

"This scam is designed to con you out of your cash.

"Scams come in many forms and are getting more sophisticated all the time.

"Even if you think you would never be fooled, make sure you remain sceptical about offers that seem too good to be true, as they usually are."

Councillor Mahboob Hussain, Sandwell Council's Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, said: "People who live alone may be particularly vulnerable to such approaches.

"I would therefore urge family, friends and neighbours to ensure that they do not fall victim to this type of scam."

Related Links
	Lottery News & Stories
	Latest Results
	Search Past Winning Numbers