What's new in the world of scams and ScamWarners.
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:27 pm
Please post your 2010 FIFA world Cup Related Scams here.

They may be Lottery scams or Advance Fee Fraud.

CONFIDENTIAL
Wednesday, 9 May, 2001 2:41
From:
"erick" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
undisclosed-recipients
dear partner




SANRAL harnesses more than 600 person years of core skills and experience in road
development and management within a highly motivated, professional and passionate team of people operating out of its ( Pretoria ) head office and four regional offices located in ( Pretoria ), (Cape Town), (Pietermaritzburg) and (Johannesburg).



I am Mr. Eric sunday, the Director of Contract Award and Procurement Commission (CAPCOM) to the Republic of South Africa. I and the Chairman of (CAPCOM) (Mr.Joseph Clark) are confidentially requesting for your consent to transfer a deliberate OVER-INVOICED sum of US$27,500,000.00m. Of Multi Billion Dollars Contract awarded to foreign firms in preparation of the 2010 Fifa Football World Cup to be hosted by South Africa.



This is to use your name/particulars LEGALLY transfer the said fund which we deliberately inflated/over-estimated during the contract we awarded some months Ago for our personal benefit. Hence we have decided to invest and re-settle outside the south African continent due to geometric economic depression and increase in crises, which leads to violation of human rights, devaluation of currencies, acute scarcity of food and other amenities


If interested, send me an email so I can give you the full details and I have the deposit document in my possession.



I await your urgent reply.


Best Regards
eric.
Advertisement

by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:28 pm
From The Director
Wednesday, 20 January, 2010 11:20
From:
"Management" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
undisclosed-recipients
From The Director
South African 2010 Lottery
headquarter, William Nicole drive.
Johannesburg
South Africa .


Congratulations your email is among the seven lucky winning, that won
5,500,000.00GBP{Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds
Sterling}Each in the just concluded draw held to promote South African
2010 World Cup
, sponsored by FNB an Coca-Cola British American tobacco companies
South Africa.Your Email Attached to File with Ticket No: (7YZ206) and
ballot No: BT120/A)
For prize claiming, call your claiming agent Mr. Jeff Bongani. On this
phone number +27 796-377-773 and email him:
[email protected]
Alternatively provide the following information for the processing of
your winning fund.


NAME:.
ADDRESS:..
NATIONALITY:.
SEX:..
AGE:.......
PHONE/MOBILE:.
FAX:.....
AMOUNT WON:..
OCCUPATION:..
TICKET NO:..
BATCH NO:...

Your Email Attached to Ticket No: (7YZ206) and ballot No: BT120/A)

Yours Faithfully,
Management
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:31 pm
Congratulations! Your E-mail Has Won You the Emirates 2010 FIFA World Cup Lotto
Tuesday, 26 January, 2010 1:48
From:
"Emirates Lotto Coordinator" <[email protected]>
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To:
undisclosed-recipients
Emirates 2010 FIFA World Cup Lotto Winner Award
WINNING CONFIRMATION DETAILS
===============================
File KTU/8823118308/07
Ref: BT: 12052005/29
Amount Won: 500.000.00 (G.B.P)
===============================
Your email address was among the lucky winners of the Emirates/ FIFA 2010 World Cup Lotto Winner Award.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 500.000.00 (G.B.P)
A tailor-made travel package that will include flights, accommodation, ground
transportation and match tickets in cash credited to file KTU/8823118308/07

To file and claim your winning contact your claims agent with your:

(1) Full Name:
(2) Age:
(3) Occupation:
(4) Reference Number:
(5) Address:
(6) Phone number:

Contact Person: Mr. James Stewart
Email: [email protected]

CONGRATULATIONS!

Yours Faithfully,
Dr. Brown Foster
Promotions Manager
EMIRATES/ FIFA WORLD CUP PROMO CYBER ANALYST
Watch the world come together in 2010 and live the unforgettable with Emirates
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:33 pm
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Wednesday, 27 January, 2010 11:48
From:
"2010 Coca Cola Promo" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
undisclosed-recipients

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your email address is among the two lucky winners in the total sum amount of US$1,450,000.00 (ONE MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) each; in the just concluded draw held to promote the SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP. This Promotion was sponsored by COCA-COLA COMPANIES in SOUTH AFRICA. Your email address qualified for the draw, as a result of your visiting various Websites we are running the e-business promotions for You/Your Company email address, attached to TICKET NO: (7YZ206), and BALLOT NO: (BT120/A).

PLEASE CONTACT (DR. SIMON ZUMA)

YOUR CLAIM AGENT,

FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT

PHONE NO: 0027 82 408 6853

FAX NO: 0027 86 528 6058

E-MAIL: [email protected]


NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to complete the CLAIM FORM and forward it to your Claim Agent for your IMMEDIATE PAYMENT.



LOTTERY CLAIM FORM



FULL NAME:...............................................

NATIONALITY:.........................................

SEX:............................................................

AGE:...........................................................

HOME/MOBILE NO:.................................

OCCUPATION:............................................

TICKET NO:...............................................

BALLOT NO:.............................................

Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.



Yours faithfully,



JOYCE KABELO

CO-ORDINATOR FOR:

COCA-COLA LOTTERY PROMOTIONS

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:34 pm
SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WORLD CUP LOTTERY(COMPUTER PROMOTIONAL DRAW)
Wednesday, 3 February, 2010 13:48
From:
"United Nations Assisted Progra" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
undisclosed-recipients
MANAGER, FLASH FORTUNE LOTTO SOUTH AFRICA.2nd Floor
SABC Radio Park Building P.O. Box 91711, Auckland
Park, 2006 Henley Road. Johannesburg, South Africa.





SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WORLD CUP LOTTERY

COMPUTER PROMOTIONAL DRAW

THIS MESSAGE IS FROM THE PROMOTION MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT

FLASH FORTUNE LOTTO DRAW

YOU HAVE WON ON THE COMPUTER BALLOT,

THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND US$ DOLLARS
US$200,000.00 IN CASH

PLEASE GET BACK TO ME

MRS MARY ADAMS
SOUTH AFRICA
YOUR CLAIMS AGENT.
FOR YOUR CASH PRIZE,

e-mail
[email protected]

(GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY)

PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement made on the 6th
April, 2006 of winners of the FLASH FORTUNE LOTTO INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS, as part of our promotional draws

Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from all part
of the world as part of our Electronic Business Promotions Program
(EBPP).

Note that your email address qualified for the draw, as a result of
your visiting various websites we are running the e-business
promotions for. You/Your Company e-mail address, attached to batch
number 7056490902/133, with reference number 475061725 drew the lucky
numbers (winning number)GB8701/LPRC and Bonus number 17 and
consequently YOU HAVE won in the Second Category.

Your(winning number). GB8701/LPRC, Your batch number 7056490902/133
Your lucky draw Numbers are. 3, 8, 13, 22, 27, 41 Bonus Number 12
Your INSURANCE Number: FLS433/453L/GMSA

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$200,000.00 in cash, which is the winning payout for Second category
winners. in the Second category. CONGRATULATIONS!(OUR PAYING BANK IS
KATTA BANK PLC: [email protected] FOR ALL THE LUCKY WINNERS

Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US$200,000.00 is
insured in the e-mail address which won you this prize, therefore you
should get back to me in full your full names so that i will re-insure
your CHEQUE under your full names. Please note that KATTA BANK your
paying agent, will invite you to their office in Africa for your
immediate payment, you have to hurry up and contact them immediately.


OUR PAST WINNERS JUBILATING IN EXCITEMENT!



NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other
information provided above and below in every one of your
correspondences with your claims agent.

REFERENCE NUMBER: 475061725
BATCH NUMBER: 7056490902/133

picture of the total money won before deposited in the
FLASH FORTUNE LOTTO PROGRAM IS A BONUS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD FOR THE
YEAR 2010 SOCCER WORLD
Congratulations once again! from all our staff and thank you for being
part of our promotions program.



FILL THE FORM BELOW AND SEND IT BACK TO ME TO FORWARD IT TO THE PAYING BANK.

NAME:......................................................................................................................

SURE NAME:..............................................................................................................

LUCKY NUMBERS.........................................................................................................

INSURANCE NUMBERS................................................................................................

WINNING TICKET NUMBERS........................................................................................


BONUS NUMBER..........................................................................................................

TELEPHONE NUMBER..................................................................................................

FAX NUMBER..............................................................................................................

EMAIL ADDRESS.........................................................................................................

HOUSE ADDRESS.......................................................................................................

PERSONAL INFORMATION(YOUR BANK
INFORMATION)..........................................................................................

STATE.........................................................................................................................

COUNTRY....................................................................................................................

AGE.............................................................................................................................

SEX..........................................................................................

OCCUPATION...........................................................................................





keep this form confidential from public to advoid double
claiming/contraditions of your fund. note you must be 18 years and
above before you can claim a prize.




Sincerely,
Mrs Helen Adams
THE MANAGER,
FLASH FORTUNE LOTTERY.

Announcement made today the 03 Febuary 2010(South
Africa Time 10:25 pm)
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:36 pm
CONGRATULATION:
Friday, 5 February, 2010 11:22
From:
"The Kicks Off South Africa 2010 Promo" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
undisclosed-recipients
Congratulations!

TheKicks Off In South Africa 2010 Promotion team is proud to inform you that you have won US$1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) why you have won? Your E-mail address is one of7 lucky Addresses who have won in the weekly Promotion.

See below how to claim your prize.
Details on the Winnings
Your Winning Reference Number is:GMML/240142:
Batch Number18/006/1094/LIPDA/ZA.
WINNING NUMBERS: 80, 35, 11, 72, 90,41 (01)

Send the following information below:

NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION:
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
COUNTRY OF RESIDENT:
TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER:

Note: This program is being sponsored by the FIFA SUPPORT TEAM, to create awareness for the up coming 2010 FIFA world Cup, which is to be host by South Africa.

TO FILE UP YOUR CLAIM.
Contact The Processing Manager:
Mr.Temba Peter
PHONE: +27 83 963 7171
FAX: +27 86 647 6683
Email: [email protected]

TheSouth Africa 2010 Promotion team congratulates you once again on your winning.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Teresa Botha
(Zonal Co-coordinator Sec.)
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:38 pm
SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WORLD CUP LOTTERY(COMPUTER PROMOTIONAL DRAW)
Wednesday, 3 February, 2010 13:48
From:
"United Nations Assisted Progra" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
undisclosed-recipients
MANAGER, FLASH FORTUNE LOTTO SOUTH AFRICA.2nd Floor
SABC Radio Park Building P.O. Box 91711, Auckland
Park, 2006 Henley Road. Johannesburg, South Africa.





SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WORLD CUP LOTTERY

COMPUTER PROMOTIONAL DRAW

THIS MESSAGE IS FROM THE PROMOTION MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT

FLASH FORTUNE LOTTO DRAW

YOU HAVE WON ON THE COMPUTER BALLOT,

THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND US$ DOLLARS
US$200,000.00 IN CASH

PLEASE GET BACK TO ME

MRS MARY ADAMS
SOUTH AFRICA
YOUR CLAIMS AGENT.
FOR YOUR CASH PRIZE,

e-mail
[email protected]

(GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY)

PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement made on the 6th
April, 2006 of winners of the FLASH FORTUNE LOTTO INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS, as part of our promotional draws

Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from all part
of the world as part of our Electronic Business Promotions Program
(EBPP).

Note that your email address qualified for the draw, as a result of
your visiting various websites we are running the e-business
promotions for. You/Your Company e-mail address, attached to batch
number 7056490902/133, with reference number 475061725 drew the lucky
numbers (winning number)GB8701/LPRC and Bonus number 17 and
consequently YOU HAVE won in the Second Category.

Your(winning number). GB8701/LPRC, Your batch number 7056490902/133
Your lucky draw Numbers are. 3, 8, 13, 22, 27, 41 Bonus Number 12
Your INSURANCE Number: FLS433/453L/GMSA

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$200,000.00 in cash, which is the winning payout for Second category
winners. in the Second category. CONGRATULATIONS!(OUR PAYING BANK IS
KATTA BANK PLC: [email protected] FOR ALL THE LUCKY WINNERS

Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US$200,000.00 is
insured in the e-mail address which won you this prize, therefore you
should get back to me in full your full names so that i will re-insure
your CHEQUE under your full names. Please note that KATTA BANK your
paying agent, will invite you to their office in Africa for your
immediate payment, you have to hurry up and contact them immediately.


OUR PAST WINNERS JUBILATING IN EXCITEMENT!



NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other
information provided above and below in every one of your
correspondences with your claims agent.

REFERENCE NUMBER: 475061725
BATCH NUMBER: 7056490902/133

picture of the total money won before deposited in the
FLASH FORTUNE LOTTO PROGRAM IS A BONUS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD FOR THE
YEAR 2010 SOCCER WORLD
Congratulations once again! from all our staff and thank you for being
part of our promotions program.



FILL THE FORM BELOW AND SEND IT BACK TO ME TO FORWARD IT TO THE PAYING BANK.

NAME:......................................................................................................................

SURE NAME:..............................................................................................................

LUCKY NUMBERS.........................................................................................................

INSURANCE NUMBERS................................................................................................

WINNING TICKET NUMBERS........................................................................................


BONUS NUMBER..........................................................................................................

TELEPHONE NUMBER..................................................................................................

FAX NUMBER..............................................................................................................

EMAIL ADDRESS.........................................................................................................

HOUSE ADDRESS.......................................................................................................

PERSONAL INFORMATION(YOUR BANK
INFORMATION)..........................................................................................

STATE.........................................................................................................................

COUNTRY....................................................................................................................

AGE.............................................................................................................................

SEX..........................................................................................

OCCUPATION...........................................................................................





keep this form confidential from public to advoid double
claiming/contraditions of your fund. note you must be 18 years and
above before you can claim a prize.




Sincerely,
Mrs Helen Adams
THE MANAGER,
FLASH FORTUNE LOTTERY.

Announcement made today the 03 Febuary 2010(South
Africa Time 10:25 pm)
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:40 pm
RECOMPENSE MTN & FIFA WORLD CUP 2010?
Friday, 5 February, 2010 18:55
From:
"OFFRE.FIFA.MTN2010" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
[email protected]

Bonjour,
Pour prouver sa participation et son soutien aux différents pays ayant leur équipe nationale dans la compétition FIFA 2010 AFRIQUE DU SUD, la fondation MTN a organisé une grande tombola basée sur une sélection au hasard de 5 adresses emails parmi plus de 500.000. A cet effet votre adresse email a été choisie vous laissant ainsi bénéficiaire d'une somme de 100.000€. Lot N° 4536 MTN-SP10 et Réf N° 456TR100/2010.
Prière envoyer votre Nom, Prénoms, Age, Sexe, Fonction, Pays Téléphone à l'adresse email du Notaire DEDRAVO ALEX pour réclamer votre gain: [email protected]

Félicitation et Merci de vite faire diligence.
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:41 pm
WINNING NOTIFICATION.
Saturday, 6 February, 2010 8:24
From:
"FIFA 2010 WORLD CUP AWARD PRIZE" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
undisclosed-recipients
SOUTH AFRICAN WORLD CUP 2010 FREE LOTTERY DRAW
HEADQUARTERS
76 NEW FETTER LANE,
LONDON, EC4A 1AG,
UNITED KINGDOM.

Dear Internet User,

We are pleased to announce you as one of the 10 lucky winners in our Free Lotto Draw held by UTC/GMT is 22:18 on 4th February 2010. Your email address emerged along side with the nine others as a category of winners in this year's Annual free lottery draw. All 10 winning email addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 74,000,000 international emails.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).NO TICKETS WERE SOLD.

The aim of this lottery draw is to uplift Poverty Alleviation,Charity Aid,Community Development, improve the level of education worldwide, encourage the use of internet and computers worldwide for vast knowledge and also increase the standard of living of the less privileged.

In addition to your winning, you have been selected as one of they 85 lucky winners to watch the Fifa World Cup 2010 live in South Africa.

The World Cup 2010 Free Lottery Draw are proudly sponsored by these famous companies: MTN, Adidas,Coca Cola, Fly Emirates, Kia and mostly by the South African Government. This free lottery draw is to show appreciation to global world for chosen South African as the host nation of 2010 Fifa World Cup and to encourage football soccer world wide.

The following particulars are attached to your lotto payment order:

i) Winning Number: FL/3713/4385/6711UK
ii) Email Ticket Number: FL/754/22/76UK
iii) Lotto Code Number: FL/096/22UK
iv) File Ref Number: FL/047/3620/7152UK

We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes for US$13.7 Million international draw coming up next month.

To file your claims, you have to fill the below information completely and submit to our fiduciary claims agent for documentation and processing of your lottery winning certificate:

Your Name in Full..................
Your Nationality.................
Your Present Address...............
Your Sex Gender..................
Your Age..........................
Your Occupation..................
Your Cell Phone Number............


Lottery Claims Agent: Dr Richard Kerry
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone. +44-703-596-1844

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of South African Football Association (SAFA) Draw Promotion, kindly accept our warmest congratulations.

Sincerely,
Rev. Rogers Kennedy
Redemption Manager


all replies to the claim agents office........
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:43 pm
2010
Tuesday, 9 February, 2010 9:58
From:
"Abdul Sah" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
[email protected]


Sir,

based on a reposed confidence on your profile which has given an

opportunity for me to understand your verse business prowess and

expertise, I would like to solicit your participation in a deal that

will benefit both of us and reason for contacting and seeking your

involvement in this, is on the grounds that I cannot handle it

personally without the help of a foreign counterpart.

I have a friend who is Special Assistant to a top Government

dignitary/Cabinet member and this friend of mine is engaged in the

moving of huge amounts of money out of the country for his boss and

during the past Xmas period, he has moved a huge amount of money to

south Africa to acquire a five star hotel in readiness for the 2010

World Cup
but unluckily, they have fallen victim of losing the money

to impostors who purported themselves as the owners of the property

(the hotel).

Now this Special Assistant who happens to be a friend is in

preparation of moving some huge amounts to Dubai - United Arab

Emirate valued at about US$120 Million and I have informed him that I

have a trusted business mogul with wide expertise in the GCC Region

who can assist him to handle this and place fundinto secured and

potential investment assets.

I will need your consent to participate in this so to bring the both

parties on the same page, you must ensure to protect my interest on

every financial profit that will emerge from this.

Reply back via my personal email

Thanks
[email protected]
Abdul Sah
by Michelle Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:45 pm
Bank Info/ Very Urgent.!! From South Africa!
Tuesday, 9 February, 2010 16:24
From:
"Alex Thambo" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
undisclosed-recipients



Attention:Mr,



Sir,



I write, asking for your indulgence in re-profiling funds to the tune of Thirty-Two Million United States Dollars (US$32 Million) that we want to keep safely overseas under your close supervision. In other words, we would like you to receive the said funds on our behalf with your detailed personal information.



The Funds were over invoiced surplus amount derived over time from a project awarded to a foreign firm by the Project procurement unit of the 2010 World cup organizing committee and presently the actual contract cost have been paid to the original project executors, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount currently in an escrow account of a local commercial Bank, which we have in principle obtained approval to remit overseas.



Kindly pardon the use of a medium informal as this for reaching out to you to make a request of great importance to us, I am Barrister, Alex Thambo here in Pretoria (Capital City of South Africa). I have the authority and approval of my client Dr.Titus Mboweni (TITO) Former Governor of South African Reserve Bank(Reitered in November 2009) to negotiate a suitable compensation for your involvement participation.



This endeavor has a minimal risk factor on your part provided you treat it with the utmost discretion. You are advised to reach me through e-mail for now due to security reasons; I will in due course extend all my relevant contact information to you. I am available for further clarification via email.



I kindly wait to hear from you.



Sincerely,

Barrister, Alex Thambo esq.

Email Adds: [email protected]
by Arnold Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:43 pm
And if you are going, watch out for fake sites claiming to sell tickets. We'll be happy to look at any you are suspicious of. Although the authorities seem to be closing them on a regular basis.

by Jillian Sat Feb 27, 2010 12:49 am
The risks of people being scammed regarding the World Cup are so great that Symantec has set up a site specifically to highlight and keep people updated on these scams:
http://2010netthreat.com

There's more information in an article from the Times Online, here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/ ... 042889.ece

February 27, 2010

Football fans under attack from World Cup fraudsters
From tickets to travel, take extra care if you are planning to go to this summer’s finals in South Africa
Mark Bridge Recommend? Football fans and their families are being targeted by a range of scams and rip-offs in the run-up to the World Cup in South Africa this summer, a Times Money investigation has found.

With big screens being put up for ticketless fans, the certainty of a party atmosphere and breathtaking landscapes to explore, many fans are thinking of heading south this summer. However, those looking to book a last-minute trip to the competition have been warned to watch out for fraudsters and check that they are not paying over the odds.

Thousands of tickets being sold on listings and auction websites, including Gumtree, are either fake or will be invalid at the turnstiles.

The only way to buy legitimate tickets is through Fifa at Fifa.com or as part of a travel package offered by a Fifa-approved tour operator. Alex Stone, of Fifa, says that tickets for England’s group matches have already sold out, as have the semi-finals and finals.

Related Links
World Cup 2010 - how to follow England
Fans battle for World Cup tickets
Although allocated, no tickets will be issued until a few weeks before the event, so many of the tickets being sold online are likely to be forgeries. If they are official, they will be printed with the original buyers’ names, which means that anyone who picks them up on the web could be turned away at the stadium.

Fifa says that returns on sold-out matches will be resold, but not until the final phase of sales, starting on April 15. Tickets are still available from Fifa for most other games and are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats for group matches cost $80 (£52) to $160, with prices for the quarter-finals starting at $150.

Tickets are also being sold on unauthorised websites, such as the Dutch site worldticketshop.com (a top hit on a Google search for “England World Cup tickets 2010”), which is offering £52 England v Slovenia tickets for £292.50 and £104 tickets for £508.50. Again, even if genuine, these tickets cannot have been allocated in the name of any new buyer.

Phoney-ticket sales are not the only scam. The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) has warned that fraudsters are posting advertisements for property rentals on unvetted listings websites, soliciting deposits from overseas fans and then disappearing without trace.

Pat Cunningham, of SAFPS, says: “We have one particular individual who has used more than six different names and e-mail addresses to solicit advance deposits. The same photograph of a property in Camps Bay, Cape Town, was used every time.”

Meanwhile, Symantec, the internet security company, says that the threat to internet users from World Cup-themed scams is so significant that it has created a website at 2010netthreat.com to highlight them. Most are advance-fee fraud e-mails, stating that the recipient has won a World Cup lottery draw, tickets to the opening ceremony or similar. Recipients who respond are asked to pay an “admin fee”, but the prize does not exist.

More convincing variants target fans looking for hotels. Paul Wood, of Symantec, says: “One e-mail offers recipients the chance to book cheap accommodation with the incentive of free match tickets to the first 50 takers. On replying, the scammers would request a large deposit and make a false booking. This could be disastrous, as the victim might pay for flights on the basis that the accommodation was booked.”

Mr Wood says that reputable companies do not send such speculative e-mails and that fans looking for flights and accommodation should go with trusted brands. These might include the five Fifa-approved tour operators: Thomson Sport (and its offshoot Sportsworld), Thomas Cook Sport, Keith Prowse, Emirates Tours and BAC Sport. All these operators have tickets to some of the otherwise sold-out games.

Approved packages start at £2,499 with Thomson Sport for England v Slovenia or USA. However, most cost £3,000-plus, and some top £10,000. Thomson Sport is the cheapest, charging £3,999 for three England group matches, against £8,743 with Emirates.

These deals include transfers, good hotels and the services of a local representative, so they are not necessarily bad value. However, many fans cannot afford to pay the premium.

Bob Atkinson, of the comparison website Travelsupermarket.com, says that one way to cut an easy 20 per cent off package costs is to mix and match separate flight and accommodation-only deals from Fifa-approved providers. These have block-booked seats and rooms, so they can offer some flights and hotels that other tour operators cannot. By comparing prices at approved and non-approved companies alike, experts say that it is possible to tailor a no-frills independent trip, including tickets for one match, for about £1,500 to £2,000. To do this, fans must be flexible on dates, routes and accommodation.

Despite crime fears, travel experts say that independent travel to South Africa can be a safe and rewarding experience, provided that fans exercise common sense. Becca Blond, a writer for Lonely Planet guidebooks, says: “South Africa is a modern country with good transport infrastructure and it is really easy to get around on your own. Crime and carjackings are a reality, so do not carry a designer bag, wear expensive watches or go out alone after dark — but I have been there half a dozen times and have not encountered a problem.”

For those willing to go it alone, tour operators say that there are still affordable flights around the World Cup dates, though average fares are up to £1,200 to £1,500. At the time of writing, Expedia.co.uk had two-week returns from London to Johannesburg with South African Airlines for dates covering the quarter-finals, semis and final at £748.

Ms Blond says: “If you cannot find a cheap ticket to South Africa, and have the time, try flying into a neighbouring country and driving. Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, is only a six-hour drive from Johannesburg.”

Cheap accommodation is in short supply in all competition locations, with rooms starting at £170 a night, although there are a handful of better deals on multinight stays from the Fifa-approved operators. Travel experts say that rates should drop at the last minute, when companies release a considerable number of unsold rooms.

Those unwilling to risk waiting should look at rates for rooms in neighbouring towns and cities, and at campsites and homestays. Ms Blond says that the latter is the best budget bet, given the friendliness of most South Africans. She adds: “Bed and board for two people starts at about 750 rand (£63) a night through Classic Hospitality (0027 11 463 2338, classic hospitality.co.za), which is one company hooking up fans with locals.”

An even cheaper option, and safe if organised through a reputable company, is to rent a local apartment. The holiday rental service on the travel website tripadvisor.co.uk has a studio apartment “on the doorstep” of the Cape Town World Cup stadium for £33 a night over the competition period.

Wherever you stay, there are scams to watch out for once you touch down. For example, ATM fraud is widely reported in South Africa. Perpetrators attach cameras or card-cloning devices to cash machines, or loiter by them, sometimes in the bank’s “uniform”, and offer to help customers. Victims’ details are stolen and used to steal their money. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advice on how to avoid common scams at fco.gov.uk.

How to avoid online scams

• Do not reply to e-mails from people or companies you do not know. Especially, do not open enclosed links or attachments.

• Fraudsters may pose as trusted companies or organisations, but the latter are unlikely to contact you by e-mail — and they will certainly not solicit personal details from you online.

• Listings and auction websites may or may not be vetted.

Only shop at big-name sites and read their terms and conditions before making any purchase.

• For comprehensive advice on how to avoid online scams and rip-offs, go to the government website GetSafeOnline.org.

Case study

When Mark Axon and three friends looked for World Cup travel deals they were shocked by prices of £3,000-plus from Thomson Sport and the other Fifa-approved operators for packages covering England’s group matches against Algeria and Slovenia.

Instead, the 23-year-old NHS administration assistant, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, went online and found flights and accommodation for £1,570 using travel comparison websites such as Travelsupermarket.com.

He says: “We had bought our match tickets from Fifa for £78 a game, so our total is £1,728, including internal flights with Kulula from Johannesburg to Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and staying at a decent guesthouse. After food and spending money, we should have saved at least £1,000 — and we get seven days over there, rather than five days with the packages that we saw.”

Mr Axon says that he is confident about travelling independently, especially as he will be with friends. He adds: “I often travel abroad for England games and the fans always look out for each other.”

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by Ralph Fri Mar 12, 2010 12:46 am
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE JUST WON £1 MILLION GBP & A VIP TICKET TO WATCH
THE-OPENING MATCH OF FIFA 2010 WORLD CUP PROUDLY HOST IN SOUTH AFRICA.
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS ONE OF THE 10 LUCKY EMAILS PICKED AT RANDOM &
ATTACHED TO TICKET#: FIN880002/587/20IKK OF REF#: UN/95123 THAT DREW#:
44-02-31-04& LUCKY#: 22 WON U A DIVIDEND OF £1 MILLION GBP OF THE £10
MILLION GBP OF 10 WINNERS IN THE ONGOING FIFA PROMOTION TO CLAIM YOUR
WON PRIZE, SEND YOUR:

NAME
AGE
ADDRESS
OCCUPATION
COUNTRY
LUCKY TICKET NUMBER
MOBILE & FAX NUMBER

TO YOUR CLAIMS OFFICE:
Mr.Pazzo Dodomingo.
My telephone: +233541291136
Email:[email protected]

AND CALL FOR YOUR PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY. NOTE. CLAIM IS VALID FOR SEVEN (7)
DAYS STARTING FROM 03/MAR/2010
by tomhut Wed Jun 02, 2010 10:26 am
I got a mail a month ago offering tickets for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. I'll take a look at my email account when I am back home but I am afraid I have deleted it, should've saved it, didn't know that I would come across this great forum. A guy was offering tickets for the World Cup for $150 or so and wanted payment via PayPal. A very easy to detect scam but a good laugh again.

Unnecessary link to a 'World Cup' Blog removed - Michelle

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