MUSLIMS - BEWARE!
LOTTERY & EMAIL SCAMS

DO NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION OUT TO STRANGERS - NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY TO YOU!

ISLAM NEWSROOM - UPDATES: "Don't Be Fooled by Scam Artists"

• "YOU DID NOT WIN ANYTHING - Don't be Fooled"
• "I.R.S. DID NOT CALL YOUR PHONE & DON'T GIVE MONEY TO ANYBODY"
• "NOBODY IN ANOTHER COUNTRY IS EMAILING YOU TO SHARE MILLIONS"
• "DON'T LISTEN TO ANYONE WHO YOU DON'T NOW"
• "DO NOT - GIVE STRANGERS YOUR PERSONAL OR CREDIT INFORMATION"

LOTTERY -

Any lottery where you pay for a "chance" to win is one form of gambling. All "gambling" is Haram (forbidden) in Islam.

But that's not all.  These emails tell you in really big letters - "YOU HAVE ALREADY WON 1st PRIZE WORTH $XXXXXX MILLION $$$$"
Or you have "WON A HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME"
Or "WINNER! PRIZE DRAWING!!" - but the small print says a whole different story. 
They are all fakes just taking people's money - they are SCAMS!

O you who believe - indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
Al Mayidah 5:90

MILLION DOLLAR MONEY TRANSFERS -

Watch out when you find an email that says something like this . . .

 . .  "I found your name and email on the Internet and I know you are a very trustworthy person. I have 3.5 million dollars to transfer and I need your help . . ."
(This is one of the worst of all the scams to ever come around)

Whatever you do - DO NOT JOIN in this foolishness. Don't even open the email or letter - throw these in the trash. If you reply even as a joke or to try to tell them how wrong this is - they will get more information from you because when your email comes to them they can find out a lot about you. LEAVE IT ALONE - 

And in Islam it is all haram anyway - even as a joke, to try to "win" in this type of game, because it would mean there are many other "loosers" and Islam forbids oppressing others under any circumstances.

Look what Allah tells us about gambling and what it does to the relationships between people:

Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?
Al Mayidah 5:91 

 These guys will  really make you think you "won" and all you have to do is - GIVE THEM MONEY!
Despite "already being a winner" - you have to make a payment or purchase or phone call to claim your prize.

• Now Watch Out For These Things:
• * The company only gives a PO box number and no geographical address (very hard to contact them if they don't reply back to you)
• * You see in the email or letter what appears to be a check for $$$$$ millions - but it is stamped "SAMPLE CHECIK ONLY" and "NOT LEGAL TENDER".
• "FINAL NOTICE" - This is their "POSITIVELY LAST CHANCE" for you to claim all your millions. You have to hurry.
• "URGENT PRIZE PAYMENT" - so what's the big rush to give away millions of dollars?
• This is all part of a big fat lie - and rip-off - a SCAM.

"PREMIUM RATE" SCAMS (1-900-000-000 numbers)

They tell say, "You have definitely won a prize. It could be really huge" - but you have to call a telephone number to claim it.

This number turns out to be a premium rate service, and you are kept on the line for ages, or you possibly have to make several more calls before you can collect your prize - which turns out to be worth far less than the cost of the call(s).

PROTECT YOURSELF

The best way to avoid this kind of scam is simply to say "No" and throw the letter in the bin. Even if there appears to be something good in the offer, say "No" first, and then seek more information and advice. In particular, check the following:

• You know you didn't buy a ticket for the lottery - (It is Haram), so how did you "WIN"?
  If you didn't buy a ticket, how could you win?
• And ask yourself this: if you have really won something, why are they asking for money?
• Ask yourself, how did the writer get your name and address?
• Ask why they are giving you a reference number in the letter which you then have to ring them up with - and why is it linked to a premium rate telephone?
• Carefully read the small print on the material they sent you
• Never give your credit card or bank account details to this kind of business until you have thoroughly checked them out
• If you have paid money already, it is most likely too late, except with companies want to stay in business. You should call your bank and stop any credit card charges (if you used it) and they will honor this up to several months after you got ripped off.
• You could try to write to the company stating that you want a full refund.

But the best thing to do from the very beginning is remember the old saying -

"Never try to beat a man at his own game" - Just leave them alone and move on to your next email, inshallah.

And what Allah says:

They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought.