If you receive an email allegedly sent by British Casino Inc beware. The notification of wining one million dollars sounds to good to be true. It is.
The scam begins with a prize notification winning email. The fraudsters claim that from 2,000 email addresses yours was picked randomly by an advanced automated computer search from the internet, whereby no ticket was sold or played by you to become part of the on-line anniversary draws promo.
Cash prize
It continues: “Based on your winning information in order to claim your winning cash payment you are requested to come over to our head office in London to collect the winning cash prize personally. But whereby you cannot make it by flying down to our office, you will then need the service of an accredited agent who will assist you in claiming the approved cash prize and transfer on your behalf”.
The head office is a stone’s throw from Victoria Station at 38 Grosvenor Gardens. Most of the offices in the building are unoccupied and waiting for tenants. The intercom has name British Casino Inc next to the bell for the second floor but no one replies. The second floor has a number of locked offices with no name of the occupant on the door.
After visiting the premises once I sent the following email to [email protected]
I called at you offices today. No one was there. Could I call on Monday February 22nd at 3.30pm?
kind regards
Karen
And received the following reply:
Ok
Sincerely
Mr. Philip Stone.
(Chief Security Officer)
Tel:- + 44 70 4573 3496, 44-70319 96570.
Fax:- + 44 700 606 0371.
Email:-[email protected]
I phoned Mr Stone, who spoke with an African accent, to confirm our appointment and he started to tell me there was tax to pay on winnings. I told him I was a bit confused about this and would like to discuss it when we meet. He said ‘fine’.
Mr Stone did not keep the appointment. The premises on the second floor at 38 Grosvenor Gardens were again unoccupied. I left Mr Stone a note with my contact details and a photocopy of the email he sent about my winnings. He did not contact me and I received no further emails.
In reply to the initial email I supplied my address, dob, occupation and mobile number and the following reply came:
WINNING INFORMATION:
- Batch Number: 2009MUSL-LA/3* Serial Number: S/N-QRH34/7658* Reference Number: WCFF/ML-26922* Winning Numbers: 07 08 11 17 53 PlayBall 36.
Confirmation Details
“In receipt of your email, we have received the filled confirmation details of your Winning Verification Form and the information has been verified and noted. Hence forth, we have to move over to the next step of your PRIZE claims process and before we start with that, you are required to provide us with a scanned copy of your identity either a Driver’s License, International Passport, National I.D or Working/Student I.D card will be needed”.
A British Casino Association did in fact occupy the premises at 38 Grosvenor Gardens but disbanded last year. Its former secretary is aware of the scam and has forwarded some of the bogus emails to Belgravia police.
So it looks as if the game is over for Mr Stone and he is certainly not a winner.
