6 year old receives Spanish lottery scam letter

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:09 pm

A Worried mum is demanding answers after overseas con artists targeted her six-year-old daughter - and she thinks the Government may be to blame.

Little XXXXXXXXXXXX had been lined up as the next victim of a Spanish lottery scam which has hit the region in recent years.

Fortunately, her sharp-eyed mum XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX nipped the problem in the bud, but it has left the 38-year-old XXXXXX woman wondering how the fraudsters got her daughter's details.

She fears it could have been a result of the two computer discs holding the personal details of all families in the UK with a child under 16 that were lost last year. Details of the blunder by the Child Benefit Agency surfaced in November.

The scam letter - which falsely claimed XXXXXX had won big in a Spanish lottery - was addressed directly to the little girl. It invited the youngster to call a premium rate phone number to claim he prize.

Mrs XXXXXX, of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, said she was horrified by the discovery.

"How did they get her details?" she said.

Mrs XXXXXX was so concerned about the letter, which told the XXXXXXXXX pupil she had won 800,000 euros, that she took it straight to the police station.

The mum-of-two said: "If she had been older, she could have used the phone to ring the number, and it says the call can last 15 minutes."

Mrs XXXXXX said the only time she could remember giving out her daughter's details was when she set up a savings account for the youngster.

However, she said she had received a letter a few months ago saying that details held by the Child Benefit Agency about her and her children had been lost in the post.

Police said they were aware of the lottery scam and were advising people to bin the letters.

Community Safety Inspector XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX said: "We have had several reports of people receiving letters from a Spanish lottery advising them that they have won hundreds of thousands of euros.

"We believe this is a fraud and the letter should be put in the bin. Any lottery win, prize draw or offer that sounds too good to be true is usually just that. The message to members of the public is to avoid any offers of this type."

Trophy Videos · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:16 pm

Well, I guess that solves the mystery of the missing discs. They weren't lost, they were stolen. I'm sure there will be more stories, soon.

6 year old receives Spanish lottery scam letter	View next topic View previous topic