I’m pretty sure this is a scam, but what are your thoughts?

Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG
Central Office
Management and Central Services:
Rosenstrasse 12-16
DE – 70156 Stuttgart
Germany

Reference Number:
Batch:

Congratulations!!! We are pleased to inform you of the result of the
just concluded annual final draws of the Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co.
OHG Program.

Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG draws was conducted from an exclusive
list of 25,000,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked
by an advanced automated random computer ballot search from the internet as part
of our international promotions program which we conduct every year. No
tickets were sold. After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address
attached to serial number 07-9907 drew the lucky numbers 9-11-25-30-38-46 which
consequently emerged you as one of first fifty (50) lucky winners in this
category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of
€1,000,000.00 (One Million EURO) in cash credited to file
This is from a total cash prize of €50 Million Euro shared amongst the first
fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.

These funds is given to you for your business,educational and personal
development, and at least 10% to be used by you to develop part of your
enviroment, which is a measure of universal development strategy, and
eradication of poverty. This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever
for Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG. The estimated €50 million
jackpot would be the sixth-biggest in Europe history. The biggest was the €363
million jackpot that went to two winners in a Febuary 2003 drawing of The Big
Game Mega Millions’ predecessor. The idea of this lottery program is that
within ten years from now, there will be notable richness among many unusual
people around the world. This will give many people the opportunity to kick
start their lives to a stage where they had always wanted. Your fund is now
deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover insurance. Due to the mix up of
some numbers,names and e-mail addresses, we advice that you keep
this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and your
money remitted to your nominated bank account as this is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this
program by the general public.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our booklet
representative office in London. In view of this, your €1,000,000.00 (One
Million Euro) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in London. Our
agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your
funds to you as soon as you make contact with him.

To begin your claim please contact our licensed and accredited agent assigned
to you:

Mr.Jamie Ryan
Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG
Lotto Payment Release Order Dept:
London Representative Office.
Phone: +44-704-574-7569

E-mail: post_jamie1@yahoo.com.hk

Your claims agent will assist you in the processing and remittance of your
prize funds into your designated bank account.

Note that all prize funds must be claimed not later than 3 weeks. After this
date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed. In order
to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please endeavor to quote your
Reference Number: and Batch numbers: in every
correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change in your
address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to participate
in this program. Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and
thanks for being part of our promotions program.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Susi Cristoph
Promotions Manager.
Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG.

P.S- I took out the reference and batch numbers out just in case this was somehow real.

Of course it’s a scam. If you didn’t buy a lottery ticket in Germany, you didn’t win the lottery. Do you really think the German government is going to randomly give away money to foreigners who didn’t even buy a lottery ticket? And why would you contact someone in the UK with a Hong Kong Yahoo address for the German national lottery?

Here’s the website of the West German lottery website with their phone number and actual email address

http://www.westdeutsche-lotterie.de/de/kontakt/uebersicht_1/kontakt.html

As you can see, the winning numbers are 10, 16, 25, 40, 42, 44 with Powerball 12. If you didn’t buy a ticket and pick these exact numbers, then there is no way you could win.

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3 Responses to “I’m pretty sure this is a scam, but what are your thoughts?”

  1. Jerry says:

    While there is a large amount of information in the communication that is consistent with an actual company in germany. The likelihood of this being true is slim at best. My suggestion would be to contact the Corporation through the address listed on the google information not the info on the email.

    The email address is from Hong Kong with references to Germany and London. Impressive but dubious.
    References :

  2. Suba says:

    Sure looks like a scam to me. Why would they randomly just give huge amounts of money away? The yahoo email address is a red flag, as is the reference to transferring money into your account. They want your account information. If you do contact them, ask them to mail you a check…if they "can’t do that" , you’ll know for sure it’s a scam.
    References :

  3. Kittysue says:

    Of course it’s a scam. If you didn’t buy a lottery ticket in Germany, you didn’t win the lottery. Do you really think the German government is going to randomly give away money to foreigners who didn’t even buy a lottery ticket? And why would you contact someone in the UK with a Hong Kong Yahoo address for the German national lottery?

    Here’s the website of the West German lottery website with their phone number and actual email address
    http://www.westdeutsche-lotterie.de/de/kontakt/uebersicht_1/kontakt.html

    As you can see, the winning numbers are 10, 16, 25, 40, 42, 44 with Powerball 12. If you didn’t buy a ticket and pick these exact numbers, then there is no way you could win.
    References :

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