What happens if you answer a lottery scammer?

Many readers have contacted me to ask what can happen if you answer one of these lottery scam emails turning up in your mail. And even though I never went forward with any of these myself, Lance Smith has. Lance has alsw been kind enough to forward the email conversation he has had with the Eurobote lottery scammers.

As it turns out, they will try to charge you about 745 US$ or about 500 € before you can claim your lottery prize.

Here are the five email messages returned to Lance after he, fully aware of the fact that this was an attempt to scam him, went forward and started claiming his million dollar lottery prize:

1. The Scam – Initial notification

First the original bait. The mail telling Lance that he had won a million Euro:

From: ”Gerald Houlliier”
Subject: NOTIFICATION
Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2005 02:41:13 +0100
Euro Millions Headquarters:
17, Brocas St,
Eton, Windsor,
Berks SL4 6BW.
Ref: EML/4080318306/04
Batch: 23/05/EC02
NOTIFICATION OF WINNING
It is my sincere pleasure to announce to you the result of the draw of
the Euro Millions 05/02 held on the 14th of January 2005 in London, UK.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 5232465504; with Serial
number Z87968DX drew the lucky numbers:6 11 14 19 29 1 3 ,which
subsequently won you the lottery in the 1st division.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$
17,419,731.07 ( Seventeen Million,four hundred and nineteen
thousand,seven hundred and thirty one dollars) in cash, credited to
file with
reference number EML/4080318306/04. This is from a total cash prize of
€25,000,000, shared amongst the lucky winners in this draw.Please note
that your lucky winning number falls within our Western booklet
representative office in Italy as indicated in your play coupon.
In view of this, your US$ 17,419,731.07 ( Seventeen Million,four
hundred and nineteen thousand,seven hundred and thirty one dollars)
would be released to you by the paying Bank. Our Western agent will
immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your
funds as
soon as you contact him.
All participants were selected randomly from the World Wide Web through
a computer draw system using e-mail addresses obtained from our network
companies. This draw takes place weekly.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claims are processed and your money remitted to
you in whatever manner you deem it fit to claim your prize. This is
part of our precautionary measures to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.
Please be warned.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
Mr. Alberto Panucci
The EML Foundation
Email: a_panucci52@yahoo.it
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
reference/batch numbers in any correspondence with our designated agent
or us.
Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.
Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.
Sincerely,
Gerald Houllier
EML Zonal Coordinator
———————————————————————-
EML OFFICE HOURS
Sunday through Saturday
24HOURS

2. The verification

After Lance answered the right email address he received this mail asking for more of his info:

From: Alberto Panucci
To: goldeneagles71@hotmail.com
Subject: VERIFICATION
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:44:30 +0100 (CET)

EURO MILLIONS HEADQUARTERS
CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Ref: EML/4080318306/04
Batch: 23/05/EC02
Dear Winner,
Congratulations once again from all the staff here.
For the avoidance of doubt, your email address was gotten from one of our network websites that you visited and it emerged as one of lucky winners.
To proceed on your claim validation, we will need your particulars to verify your winning.This will be required to draw up the winning papers in your name.Please if you are not the certified owner of this email address,please do notrespond as that will amount to impersonation which could lead to civil or/and criminal proceedings against you..
Attached here is a copy of our verifications form; please fill accordingly so as to proceed with your winning validation
Please attach a recent passport photograph if available
(For identification at payment point)
1. FULL NAMES:
_________________________________________________
2. DATE OF BIRTH:
_________________________________________________
3. SEX:
_________________________________________________
4. MARITAL STATUS:
_________________________________________________
5.CONTACT ADDRESS:
_________________________________________________
6.TELEPHONE NUMBER:
_________________________________________________
7.OCCUPATION:
_________________________________________________
8.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:
_________________________________________________
Upon receipt of the duly requested data which is to be sent via email, you will receive the contact information of the payment office
to effect the release of your claim in anyway you deem
fit.
Warm Regards,
Alberto Panucci

———————————
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3. Contact with the courier service

Now it’s time to get a personal contact. The scammers where wise enough to wait for a few days before sending this mail. It must look as if the verification took its time:

From: Alberto Panucci
To: goldeneagles71@hotmail.com
Subject: CONTACT COURIER SERVICE
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 05:59:52 +0100 (CET)

EURO MILLIONS HEADQUARTERS
CUSTOMER SERVICE

Ref: EML/4080318306/04
Batch: 23/05/EC02

Dear Mr Smith,
I am glad to inform you that the Verifications department has cleared you. The next step would be for your winning documents which consist of the original copies of your winning certificate, letter of affidavit of claims, and Money laundering protection document to be forwarded to you.
Please contact (via email) Mr Bernard Bailey of Errandas Delivery
Agency with this email address: errandasdeliveries@mail2world.com
He would be responsible for sending you the original copies of your winning documents.
Your package number is 0058710568. Quote this number in all correspondence with Mr Bailey
Regards,
Alberto Panucci.

———————————
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4. Delivery information

We are getting closer…

From: ”Bailey Bernard”
To:
Subject: DELIVERY INFORMATION
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 11:01:47 -0800
ERRANDAS DELIVERY AGENCY
35,WELLS STREET
LANGHAM,OAKHAM
LE 15 7JS
EMAIL: errandasdeliveries@mail2world.com
DATE: 08-02-2005.
Dear Mr Smith,
Welcome to Errandas Delivery Services.
We are the delivery agent to the EML Foundation and will ensure that the
paperwork needed to validate your claim and redeem your winning gets
delivered to you.This will ensure that you do not have any problems
whatsoever with your banking authorities or government.
Your package has been deposited with us under the reciever pay
platform.This means that you are expected to pay for the cost of your
package delivery.Please furnish us with your full address and contact
phone number(s) as these will be used to contact you when your package
arrives.
Please be informed that the Fund Release Documents including the Drug
Law Certificate (which certifies the funds free from illegal Drug
trafficking) has been forwarded to us by the EML trust. As soon as the
delivery charges are paid, your documents will be delivered to you
within 72hrs and your winning can be claimed by you immediately.
These documents are as follows,
MONEY LAUNDERING DOCUMENT
LETTER OF AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIMS
ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF WINNING
These documents will be demanded by the paying bank to establish your
identity. This is to avoid making payment to the wrong person.
Note that your total prize claim has been insured to the real value and
as such cannot be deducted from. This is in accordance with section
13(n) of the National Gambling Act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd
July 1996. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of
funds.
Please note that your charges cannot be deducted from your winning
because it is against the gambling act.
On acknowledgement of this email,I would forward to you the payment
information and details.
Sincerely
Mr Bernard Bailey
ERRANDAS DELIVERY AGENCY

5. Delivery charges

After all the above. At last it’s time to get to know just how much the scammers want from Lance.

From: ”Bailey Bernard”
To:
Subject: DELIVERY CHARGES
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 13:44:50 -0800

ERRANDAS DELIVERY AGENCY
35,WELLS STREET
LANGHAM,OAKHAM
LE 15 7JS
TEL :+447031849990
EMAIL:errandasdeliveries@mail2world.com
DATE: 11-02-2005.
Dear Mr Smith,
This is to acknowledge your mail.
Please be informed that your particulars has been
verified and your package is ready to be couriered to
you after the following charges have been paid:
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES……………………$380
INSURANCE ……………………………..$300
COURIER CHARGES ……………………….$65
TOTAL ……………………$745
You are to make this payment via WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER in the name of our accounts officer:
NAME: MR ANTHONY ADAMS
ADDRESS: VAUXHAULBRIDGE ROAD, LONDON
SW1V, 2SS.
Payable in London UK after which a payment receipt
will be forwarded to you. You are required also to
forward payment details to this office via email which
MUST include the following;
NAME OF SENDER.
ADDRESS OF SENDER.
AMOUNT SENT.
CONTROL NUMBER. (M.T.C.N)
Upon receipt of the above, modalities to send your
package will commence immediately and
you will receive them within 72 hours of confirmation
of payment.
Sincerely,
Bernard Bailey

380 + 300 + 65 = 745 US Dollars! That’s what the scam was all about.