Police Warn of New Lottery Scam: Don’t Fall for ‘You’ve Won’ Emails
Online scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to steal your personal information and money. Police have issued an urgent warning about a new scam where victims receive official-looking emails claiming they have won a substantial cash prize from a well-known lottery or games company.
These deceptive emails appear legitimate, complete with authentic logos and professional designs. They often include a link to a fake website mimicking the real lottery page, designed to trick users into entering sensitive data.
Criminals Follow Up With Calls
After clicking the link, victims may receive calls from impersonators posing as lottery officials. These scammers offer to help verify your identity and claim your prize, requesting sensitive details such as bank account numbers, PINs, login credentials, or small “administration” or “verification” fees. Their goal is to gain full access to your finances.
How Scammers Build Trust
Scammers take their time to sound professional, using official jargon and seemingly logical questions. This builds trust and lowers your guard, leading to the disclosure of critical personal and financial information.
Tricky Email Addresses
Their emails are almost identical to genuine senders, with subtle variations like misplaced spaces or swapped characters (e.g., ‘lo terij’ instead of ‘loterij’). These minor differences can be easily missed in haste.
Protect Yourself
- Never click on links in unexpected emails claiming you’ve won a prize.
- Check sender email addresses carefully for typos or anomalies.
- Visit official lottery sites by typing the address directly into your browser.
- Confirm any winnings directly with the company’s official customer service.
If you receive a message about a prize from a lottery or contest you never entered, it’s a scam. Always verify suspicious communications and report them to the police.
Source: mamasenomas.nl