National Lottery

A reader forwarded me this scam.  It tells a ridiculous story about how a parcel company is “in possession of a parcel deposited by the National Lottery”.  The National Lottery don’t send parcels.  You can’t win the National Lottery without buying a ticket and checking for yourself to see if you have won.  This is a scammer who wants to steal your money by charging you fees for your non-existant parcel.

I think my reader might have replied to this original email, because she also forwarded me a reply form the scammer, asking her to send £695 to the scammer.  I have reproduced the reply is below the original email.

This is to confirm that we are in possession of a parcel, deposited by THE NATIONAL LOTTERY which is to be immediately delivered to you. It is the usual practice of our organization to conduct a proper verification of all parcels that we are to deliver to ensure that they are valid and legitimate.

We are a well established firm offering courier and transport services 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, for priority delivery of letters, parcels and consignments to any destination by road, air or sea.

We have undertaken a hardcover insurance cover in case of loss, damage or theft of your highly sensitive parcel, hence we assume all responsibilities in case of any eventualities listed above.

Attached to this email is a copy of our official dispatch delivery invoice, you are to

(1) select a delivery option of your choice
(2) inform us of the exact date which you wish to make the corresponding payment
(3) we will then provide you with payment instructions

Upon receipt of evidence of payment of the required charges from you, we shall dispatch your parcel immediately, you will be notified of the expected date and time of delivery, which will depend on the option of delivery chosen by you.

We are glad to be of service to you.
Mr. Edward McArthur,
Handling officer,
Parcel2Go UK
Tel: +44 702 405 9627
edward_mcarthur@yahoo.co.uk

Reply from the scammer:

We have received your bank details, and wish to inform you that processing has reached the next stage. In order to avoid error in the transfer execution of your lottery winnings of £4,500,000.00 (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds Only) to your desired bank account, kindly verify details below:

Bank Name – First National Bank
Bank Address – (Somewhere in) Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa
Account Holder – Miss (My reader’s name)
Account Number – (removed for privacy)
Swift Code: – xxxxxx

Your winnings are presently deposited in your name with our bank (Alliance & Leicester International Bank), upon your request, you will be provided details to verify your account balance.

To enable us proceed, you will be required to make the payment of our administrative charge of £695.00 (SIX HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE GREAT BRITAIN POUNDS ONLY).

Due to the fact that your winnings have hard cover insurance to their full value, we cannot make any form of deduction from the said funds. Transfer will be carried out upon receipt of above charge from you.

Be informed that this payment can be made easily and securely via any money gram office nearest to you, as soon as you have the £695.00 ready, you are to inform us so we can provide you with payment details.

SINCERELY YOURS,
Mr. William Thomson,
Processing Director