6:45am Monday 10th December 2007
FOLLOWING a recent upsurge in the number of complaints received, Hampshire County Council's Trading Standards Service is warning residents to beware of bogus overseas lottery letters and emails telling them they have won large amounts of money.
The majority of the letters appear to originate from Spain. Names being used include El Gordo, La Primitiva, El Mundo, Euro Millones, International Lotto Corporation and International Lottery Board. Although El Gordo is a genuine lottery in Spain, the address given is not their correct address and the logo is used without their permission.
Hampshire residents may also get letters from the Australian Lottery Corporation based in Canada, National Bank based in the USA, but posted in Canada, and the Australian On-Line Lottery in Spain. Some of the mailings have UK stamps affixed and often UK postmarks.
People who receive the letters are being asked to provide identity details and money, usually said to cover the cost of handling fees. Having paid the fee, recipients are then pestered for more money, but the prize never materialises. Some ask for money to cover taxes that need to be paid before the winnings can be claimed. Recipients are being sent cheques to cover these expenses, however it is most unlikely these will be honoured.
The leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: "It is shocking how much money some people have lost because of these bogus lotteries. In some cases residents have lost thousands, even as much as £95,000. Some residents have been groomed over months, befriended by the caller who, having gained their confidence, has then conned them out of their life savings.
"Because many of these fraudulent letters and emails originate from abroad it is much more difficult for Trading Standards to investigate, which is why our advice to residents is to ignore all prize notifications on any lottery or draw that they have not entered and never give away personal details or part with money. A genuine lottery would never ask a winner to pay for anything."
Anyone contacted about a lottery prize or draw can report it to Consumer Direct South East on 08454 04 05 06. Emails should be reported to internet service providers who can filter them and anyone who has parted with money to claim a lottery winning should contact their local police.
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