A couple of days ago, I received an email from Emmanuel Loiseau informing me that I had been "cleared a winner" in the UK National Lottery online Sweepstakes International program. Feeling a bit dubious, I wrote to Mr Loiseau asking for confirmation of the win. He then re-sent his email with the National Lottery logo at the top of his message.
In an earlier email that I found in my spam box, there was another email from Mr Loiseau instructing me to contact Western Pacific Courier in order to claim my winnings.
Because I found this particular email late, I received a further message from Loiseau advising me that since I hadn't contacted the courier, I was in jeopardy of losing my claim. He gave me 24 hours to contact the courier.
Upon doing so, I was told that I had to pay their fee of GBP160 by Western Union and that they would not accept a cheque, a bankers draft or credit card payment.
I was running out of time so I phoned Western Pacific Courier to find out if I could get an extension. I even offered to go to their office in Croydon to pay in person. This offer was rejected by the person I spoke to, Ron Parker.
Mr Parker advised me that I was to make the Western Union payment out to Boris Branson then fax or email the scanned/photocopied payment order to him.
When I went to a shop that makes Western Union payments, the shop keeper had serious doubts about my payment based on the fact that it was going to someone with whom I was not connected, and he had the presence of mind to phone the Western Union representative. After a couple of minutes, he handed me the phone, and I told the agent why I was sending the payment. He (Julian) Googled Western Pacific Courier and found that they are indeed perpetrating a hoax.
I was saved a lot of hearache, as well as GBP160 by two caring and sharp-witted guys.
The original email purportedly from the National Lottery seemed genuine to me. I wonder how many other people have been duped by these people, and what would alert anyone to the fact that this is indeed a hoax. GBP160 seems a small price to pay when you've been told that you've just won GBP850, 000.00!
Lastly, after my phone conversation with Julian at Western Union, I too Googled Western Pacific Courier. It seems that their hoax/scam has been going on for at least a year. Can anyone tell me why these people have not been stopped? Why they haven't been brought to justice? They're even using the same names they were using this time last year. Can't they be stopped?
I was lucky int this case. I imagine there are many who haven't been...
Antoinette
Chadwell Heath
United Kingdom
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