Warning lottery scams

The Netherlands gaming control board is issuing warnings against lottery scams that operate under a large variety of different names, such as Sponsor Lotterij Amsterdam, euro million lottery international, powerball inter lotto, staatslottery, Quad Cruise lottery promotion, lotto plus, Dayzers Promo Lottery, etcetera, etcetera. By e-mail you receive a so called lottery winnings notification and you are informed that you have won a big prize of millions of euros or dollars in a free prize draw. All these so called promotional lotteries have in common that a handling fee of up to a few thousand euros or dollars must be paid to an intermediary (a so called claims agent), before the winnings can be paid out. Most people do realise that bona fide lotteries do not operate this way and that such offers are too good to be true. But, unfortunately some people are tricked and pay the fee. To authenticate the fee, often reference is made to the name of the (Netherlands) gaming control board, European Gaming Board or Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF). Please be advised that all names, addresses, and references to official entities and regulations of these so called promotional lotteries are fake. The Netherlands gaming control board collaborates with the competent police authorities in this matter. If you have become a victim of this scam, you may contact the Netherlands gaming control board to receive a form to complete for the competent police authorities.