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September 15 - A spokesperson for the South African National Lottery, Gidani, has issued a warning to the population regarding lottery scams that are doing the rounds in the country.
The lottery scams target random people, announce that they have won millions or dollars or euros, and then ask them to provide their banking details so that the 'winnings' can be deposited into their accounts.
"We implore you to totally ignore any mail that claims you have won money in a lottery when in fact you never purchased a ticket for that particular lotto draw," said Thembi Thulwani from Gidani.
Two lottery scams in particular have been discovered, both of them requesting that customers give out their bank details.
The first lottery scam involves a letter to the 'winners', telling them that they are have won half of a $1.5 million lottery. They are then requested to travel to Johannesburg's airport - at their own cost - to meet a representative of the lottery company, or an 'attorney' can act on their behalf and pick up the 'winnings' for them.
At this point, victims are asked to send their personal bank details so that they 'money' can be deposited in for them.
"These criminals target people outside Johannesburg so that when the victim is asked to fly in through to OR Tambo they instead opt for the money to be deposited into their bank account and the only way they can do that is by giving the scam operators their banking details," explained Thulwani.
The other scam involves a mass mailing of letters informing victims that they have won a lump sum in a lottery and that they would need to provide their bank and personal details in order to get the payout.
One scam even went so far as to link itself 'officially' with Spanish EuroMilliones brand. "The confidence tricksters have gone to the extent of affiliating themselves illegally to legitimate international lotteries, hoping that it will give them more credibility," concluded Thulwani.
Get the latest genuine lottery results right here every time there is a drawing.
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