Warning Over Olympic And World Cup Lottery Scam

Powys residents are being warned about scam letters claiming that they have won a large sum of money in the “International FIFA World Cup Online Lottery”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scam falsely claiming to promote the Olympics and football World Cup has prompted Powys County Council’s Trading Standards Service to issue the warning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The letter suggests that you are the winner of £900,000 after being selected through a worldwide computer ballot system of three million people. Recipients are asked to contact a “claims agent” on a landline, mobile or fax number provided in order to begin the process of claiming the money. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The letter also asks you to inform your “claims agent” of any changes in your personal information or address as soon as possible. Your personal information is commonly used by fraudsters to commit identify fraud. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Both FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have confirmed the letters are fraudulent and have nothing to do with the 2018 FIFA World Cup or the 2016 Olympics. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr John Powell, Cabinet Member for Trading Standards said: “Scammers will use any means necessary to try to con people out of money and tagging on to hugely popular, global events such as the Olympics or World Cup in a bid to be seen as authentic is one such technique. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“But by raising awareness of such scams and with residents’ help to spread the word, we can stop the scammers in their tracks. Our message to residents is please don’t be fooled; if you haven’t entered a lottery, there is simply no chance you could have won it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Clive Jones, the council’s Professional Lead for Trading Standards, said: “This is a scam which has been doing the rounds nationally for the past couple of years and has now been recorded in the Powys area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If you make contact with the fraudsters you will be asked to part with money as an upfront payment, or forward money to enable them to enter the tender process for a prize that does not exist. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We would also advise residents that no official lotteries would contact people to tell them they have won a prize. Treat any letter telling you otherwise with extreme suspicion.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​