Watch Out for Rugby World Cup Limited Lottery Scam
The City of London Police and World Rugby are warning fans to be vigilant regarding a growing number of scams in the form of fake lotteries or sweepstakes claiming to be connected with or authorised by Rugby World Cup 2015, Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) and/or World Rugby.
Fans are being contacted (mostly via email), in the name of (or using trademarks associated with) RWCL, Rugby World Cup 2015 and/or World Rugby (formerly known as the International Rugby Board). Some correspondence falsely informs people that they have won a competition through an automated ballot.
Prizes are supposedly being awarded in a range of currencies that include pounds, dollars and rand, and can be claimed via the payment of an administrative fee, or by submitting personal details to an unofficial e-mail address.
Won tickets
Other correspondence tells people that they have won tickets to Rugby World Cup 2015 matches, with ‘winners’ getting the chance to travel to England and Wales to watch the Rugby World Cup 2015 tournament. If you want to buy tickets, see how to avoid being scammed when buying them online.
A number of reports have now been handed to the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) to handle. Their team of experts are reviewing the evidence and working to suspend the email addresses being used to circulate the scam.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fyfe, from the City of London Police’s NFIB, said: “This appears to be a classic lottery fraud that is using the good name of the Rugby World Cup to try and persuade people they have won a genuine competition. It is very important that recipients of these scam emails do not make contact in any way with the sender and instead report to us, via Action Fraud.”
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset added: “RWCL and World Rugby wishes to assure people that it does not run any form of lottery or sweepstake connected to any of its events or properties, including Rugby World Cup 2015.”
“Fan experience is at the heart of what promises to be a very special Rugby World Cup and we urge fans to be vigilant and contact Action Fraud immediately if any fraudulent activity is suspected.”
To report a fraud and receive a police crime reference number, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool.
You can now also sign up for free to Action Fraud Alert to receive direct, verified, accurate information about scams and fraud in your area by email, recorded voice and text message.
Related link
How to avoid being scammed when buying Rugby World Cup 2015 tickets online