We at Idealspain have undertaken a great deal of research into this matter and would like to make our readers aware of the following points:

The national lottery in Spain NEVER sends out emails or postal letters notifying winners

Most lottery scams originating from Spain are run by Nigerians living illegally in Spain however, gangs of Spanish and English have been having a go too.

The scams normally work like this:

1. You receive an email claiming that you have won a large prize in a Spanish lottery. In order to claim the prize you need to call a Spanish number.
2. You call this number and it is likely to be a premium rate number on which they keep you talking. It is often a mobile number (all mobiles in Spain begin with a 6). A lottery office would not use a mobile number. When you call the number it is likely that they will ask you for a legal fee to process the claim. It can be anything from 600-3,000 euros.
3. If you send them money – forget it. You will hear no more from them. We did however hear of a case whereby someone sent them money and they had the nerve to call again 2 weeks later and ask for another processing fee. We have heard of people losing in excess of £10,000 to these crooks.
4. Many of these lottery scams are also an attempt to STEAL YOUR IDENTITY.

If you really want to give some money away to these scammers, I would rather you send it to me !

NEVER - EVER GIVE ANY DETAILS IN RESPONSE TO A LOTTERY LETTER
If you give them your personal details your bank account may be emptied and loans etc will be taken out in your name.

If you receive an email about a lottery win, consider the following.

• Does the contact phone number begin with a ‘6’ or is it a landline beginning with ‘95’

• Are they asking for a processing fee to claim the prize

• Has the company got a CIF Nº. (All registered companies have to have one – if in doubt, call them and ask for it)

• Never give them your bank details

• Do a simple search for the bank name and address that they are quoting - It will NOT be genuine

We have listed below, some sample lottery scams that circulate from Spain

Notes: No such lottery and the number is a mobile number, you can tell because it begins with a '6'. The address is residential. On calling the number you are asked to send money to cover transfer fees and taxes. This is something that a genuine lottery would NOT ask for..... and they wouldn't write to you, especially if you had never bought a ticket.

You receive a letter in the post from BRITISH  LOTTERY6/49, P O Box 1010, 3b Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park, Aintree, Liverpool , L30 1RD  and you are asked to call them or write to them giving all your personal details. This is a clear attempt at identity theft. You are to contact the Claims Consultant: Mr. Gore William, Phone: +44 701 115 2476 Email: bnl.claims@hotmail.com
DO NOT REPLY and DO NOT give them any personal details

If you call the telephone number - An 01701 number is a premium rate international routing number. Your call will be transferred to somewhere warm and exotic without you even knowing it.

Ask yourself:
Would a company such as this send out unsolicited letters?
Would a company such as this use a Hotmail email account?

What you should do:
Send an envelope back to them, stuffed with heavy card but with no letter in etc and don't put a stamp on it. This way they will have to pay to collect the letter from the post office. Then email Hotmail and complain that this email address is being used by a scammer.

A payment processing form from Seguros Bilbao was included. I am asked to fill out this form (on which there is on option to be paid by bank transfer or certified cheque. This line reads: "bank information only if you want to be paid by bank transfer" ) and fax this form with a photocopy of my international passport or driver's licence to 00 34 911 010 799 no later than June 29th, 2007, otherwise the funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed. 

There is also a stipulation that the "beneficiary" sign a declaration agreeing to pay 10% commission to Bilbao Sefuros S.L upon receipt of money.

Poorly presented, spelling mistakes, use of mobile phone numbers and made up companies

Just to summarise again:
If you receive a notification that you have won the lottery - ask your self:

1. Did you buy a ticket? If not then you have NOT won

2. Are they asking you to send money to them? If yes then no genuine lottery would ask that

3. Does their contact number begin with a '6'? If yes, it's a mobile.... how professional is that?

4. Do they want to see your passport, driving licence or bank details? If yes, it's an attempt to steal your identity or clear your bank account

5. What's their email address? It's probably a free account such as Hotmail.. difficult to trace and easy to close down once they have scammed you

• NEVER SEND MONEY TO ANYONE IN RESPONSE TO A LOTTERY LETTER

• NEVER GIVE OUT PERSONAL DETAILS OR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

• DO NOT LET ANYONE HAVE A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT OR DRIVING LICENCE