There are many false lotteries circulating over the Internet from foreign countries. The notices stated the recipients e-mail address had been chosen and if they furnish their personal information, they will receive large sums of money in foreign currency

An e-mail scam offered to loan someone money at a low interest rate. To apply, the potential victim is asked to “click on another link” or in some instances, the individual is asked for their personal information.

Citizens have received e-mails from “Pastors, Clergy, and the Pope John Paul Foundation” stating the potential victim has won money. However, the “winner” must enter personal information in order to claim the prize.

Some citizens received e-mails stating a bank account had been suspended until the potential victim follows a cyber path. Personal information, including a bank account number was requested by the sender. Many of the lottery scams request that money is deposited into personal accounts.

Numerous e-mails stated that due annual calculations, it was found the IRS owed the recipient a tax refund. The e-mails gave different access points and different process deadlines.  The IRS makes notifications through the US Post Office.

Certain e-mails are stating there is unclaimed money sitting in an account which will have to be turned over to a foreign government unless it is quickly removed from the country. The potential victims are being offered a percentage of the money if the deposit the money in an American bank and transfer it back to the foreign country.

There are e-mails being sent which indicate that a child’s parents have been killed. The parents supposedly have millions of dollars in which the child will not be able to receive unless the money is transferred out of the foreign country and returned to the child. The e-mails request the help of the potential victim in the United States. Personal information is requested in order for the child to receive the “help.”

Several residents received e-mails which stated hundreds of thousands of dollars were transferred from the senders account into an authorized account. This was supposedly done because the original owner of the money had to travel for other business dealings. The authorized holder has an e-mail address which the victim must contact and give personal information in order to receive the large sum of money.  Most of the e-mails state the receivers are being given the money due to their “sincerity, courage and trustworthiness.”

Our citizens have received e-mails stating the person sending the e-mail is ill and only has hours to live or their spouse has died and the sender is now deathly ill. The e-mails state the person is rich and wants the potential victim to assist in giving the money to charities. For their assistance, the victim is supposed to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars. Usually, the victim is asked to e-mail an assistant who will get their personal information and guide them through the process.

Individuals have reported that they have received a check and they were instructed to send a fee to the sender in return for the money being deposited into their bank account. When the victim sends the money, the bank finds the original check was fraudulent and the victim looses the fee money.

Citizens are receiving requests via e-mail transfer money out of a foreign country to the United States. The money is then returned to the attorney for the sole purpose of defrauding the foreign government. The e-mail acknowledged the purpose of the money transfer is to commit a fraud. In return, the potential victim was offered a percentage of money. The victim was asked for personal information to complete the transactions.

A supposed pastor is requesting information from citizens.  He in turn promises to give away millions of dollars.  The e-mail states there is money just sitting at Federal Express awaiting a response.

A beneficiary e-mail was received from the United Kingdom stating in order to receive  money, a person must provide personal information to the sender. The recipient will then receive an atm card with millions of dollars in the account. 

An individual posing as the International Monetary Fund sent an e-mail stating the recipient was discovered to  be a contractor which was hidden by a corrupt government and they want to give them money owed from services. Personal information as well as banking information are requested by the sender.

Many lottery scams were received by citizens. The lotteries were purportedly in the United Kindom, Nigeria, and West Africa. The e-mails requested personal information. Most of the e-mails stated that the winnings were in the form of cash, whereas some were in the form of cars or other expensive items.

Some e-mails stated they were from U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq who had found money and want the help of the recipient to move the money to the United States at a rate of 70% to the soldier and 30% to the stranger.  The transaction was supposedly “risk free.”