Funny that this one came into our email inbox yesterday as we had just watched a segment on the Oprah Show about just such a scam! No sooner did the show finish when this clumsy scam came our way.

What you get with this one is the usual claim that you won the lottery and you are now eligible for their big fat prize. Problem is, we never entered any lottery, so just how do you win a lottery that you never entered? Remember now, lotteries cost money to enter – they don’t enter you for free!

So let’s start dissecting this email. Let’s start with the name of the lottery. They claim it”s the real EuroMillions Lottery, yet they spell it wrong through the email. That should be your first clue that this is a scam. Remember, Google or other search engines are your best friends when it comes to sleuthing. Search the names of companies and people involved in the email. Almost always you will start to see holes come into focus, and in this case it starts immediately with the misspelled lottery name.

Next the scam employs some old tricks including the need to keep everything quiet, “we advice that you keep all information about this prize confidential until your funds.” Well of course they want you to stay quiet while they scam you! Next we see the limited time frame to respond or else you lose your claim to the money, “You must claim our prize: 2,000,000.00 Euros not later than 7-days from the moment you receive this e-mail.” And once again, one of the easiest tell-tale signs that this is a scam, is that they want you to reply to a free email address – this time a Yahoo Germany email address – for someone purporting to be in the Netherlands.

The entire email as it came to us is listed below. If you get this email do not respond to it in any way. Just delete the email and move on. We are going to have some fun with this one. We are going to respond with our requested details as such:
Name – Sergeant Tom Scamm
Telephone – 1-627-246-4044 – which is the one they used plus one number
Address – 1247 Jailhouse Way Vancouver Canada
Occupation – Police Officer
Position – Head Internet Fraud

Let’s just see how stupid or hard up for money they really are.

Euro Millions Lottery.
Karspeldreef 6A, 1101 CJ, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Euro Millions are Affiliate of Belgium National (BNL).

We are pleased to inform you of the result of Euro Millions, which was Held on the 30th of July 2007.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:14-18-34-45-67(76-32) With PrizeNumber(match5): 222000009 drew a prize of 2,000,000.00 (Two Million Euros). This lucky draw came first in the 2nd Categoryof the Sweepstake.

You will receive the sum of 2,000,000.00 (two Million Euros) from our Authorized bank. Because of some mix-up with sweepstake prizes, including the time limited placed on the payment of your prize: 2,000,000.00 euros, we advice that you keep all information about this prize confidential until your funds: 2,000,000.00 Euros will be transferred to you by our bank.

You must adhere to this instruction, strictly, to avoid any delay with the release of your funds to your person. This program has been abused severally in past, so we are doing our best to forestall further occurrence of false claims. This sweepstake was conducted under the watchful eyes of 8,000 spectators.

Your e-mail address attached to e-ticket number 14-18-34-45-67 (76-32) was selected and; it came out first by an e-ballot draw from over 250,000 e-mail addresses (personal and corporate e-mail addresses).

This program is sponsored by CFI to compensate faithful internet suffers around the globe.

Congratulations for becoming one of the few lucky winners.

With your permission, your e-mail will also be included in the next Sweepstake of 20Million Euros.

You must claim our prize: 2,000,000.00 Euros not later than 7-days from the moment you receive this e-mail. In order to avoid unnecessary Delays with your claim from the bank; please contact them immediately, and quote your winning and personal information now,and in all your Correspondence with the bank. Here is the contact Information: Bank: Premuim Heypotheekofferte Bank. N.L.

Attention: Mr. FRED VAN
Karspeldreef 6A, 1101 CJ, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
E-mail: premuimbankplcnl@yahoo.de
Phone: +31 627-246-404
Fax: +31-847-185-133

Furnish them with the following:
(i) Your name(s),
(ii) Your telephone and fax numbers
(iii) Your contact address.
(iv) Your winning information (including amount won).
(v) occupation and position in office
Congratulations in Advance!!!

Yours Faithfully,

Vjertis Von Adrian (Ms.) CPA.
Coordinator: Euro Millions.