FraudWatch warns of the escalation of Internet fraud
Date: May 03, 2004Source: Computer Crime Research Center
As PR Web informs, FraudWatch International warns Internet consumers of the escalation of Lottery scams circulating via email. These scams involve advance fee fraud, typically seen in Nigerian 419 scams, and acts as a method to gather personal information used for identity theft. Lottery scam emails are increasing at an alarming rate. In April FraudWatch International received over 1000 variations, double the number of ‘phishing’ email scams received.
Melbourne, Australia (PRWEB) May 3 2004 -- FraudWatch International warns Internet consumers of the escalation of Lottery scams circulating via email. These scams involve advance fee fraud, typically seen in Nigerian 419 scams, and acts as a method to gather personal information used for identity theft.
Lottery scam emails are increasing at an alarming rate. In April FraudWatch International received over 1000 variations, double the number of ‘phishing’ email scams received. “Consumers are paying big dollars to have their bogus winnings released to them. If it wasn’t working, the number of emails wouldn’t be increasing,” says Managing Director Trent Youl. “Victims are contacting us every day asking for assistance to recover their lost money. The bottom line is, once the fraudsters have it, recovery is unlikely.”
Grace is a victim. She received an email from OY Keikkaus Lottery notifying her that her email address had won US$2.5 Million. Grace says, “I was really excited then without considering the fact that I never joined any sweepstake lottery. I paid them US$2,000 for taxes and insurance and upon receiving that amount they told me that it’s not enough and advised me to borrow money from friends or mortgage our property. I actually followed whatever they said. I kept borrowing money to pay them until my brother pointed out typing errors in their correspondence. I searched the Internet and found FraudWatch International’s website and that’s how I found out this was a lottery scam. I burst into tears when I found out because my effort and money had been wasted. I hope this will serve as a lesson to others.”
Add comment
Email to a Friend
