SCRATCHIE SCAM

Scratchie scams take the form of fake scratchie cards that promise some sort of prize, on the condition that the 'winner' pays a collection fee.

Scratchie cards are sometimes used in promotions, lotteries or competitions, giving users signal to 'scratch and win an instant prize', for example travel or holidays. Scratchie scams will offer you an immediate prize, but when you contact the trader to claim it, you will be asked to provide payment for various 'fees' via wire transfer or money card. The scammer may request bank details and photo identification. The scam package may include professional-looking brochures, often for accommodation, which are designed to trick you into thinking the competition is authentic. It may also include contact details for a business overseas and a web address for a fraudulent but professional-looking website. The up-front payment requested can be as high as a few thousand dollars. If you pay, you will not receive the prize, and you will never see your money again. If you provide your personal details, they may be used for further deceptive activity such as identity crime.

    ? You receive a letter or brochure in your mailbox which includes scratchie cards. Often there will be two cards ? one is a losing card and the other has a second or third prize win.
    ? The scratchies will say you have to call the company to claim the prize.
    ? If you call the organization they may claim that the scratchies sent to you were wrong however you can pay a fee to enter the competition or become a customer to make the win valid.
    ? You are asked to send a fee or bank account details to collect your prize and may be asked to send personal identification as well.
    ? The trader offering the prize claims the offer has government approval. This is often accompanied by a request for the payment of taxes linked to the prize.

    ? If someone asks you to pay money in order to receive a prize or winnings, it's almost always a scam.
    ? Avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for payment via money order or wire transfer. It is rare to recover money sent this way.
    ? Do an internet search using the names, winnings or contact details on the scratchie card to check for any references to a scam.
    ? Never send money or give credit card, online account details, or copies of important personal documents to anyone you don't know or trust.

If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately. We encourage you to report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page. This helps us to warn people about current scams, monitor trends and disrupt scams where possible. Please include details of the scam contact you received, for example, email or screenshot. We also provide guidance on protecting yourself from scams and where to get help.

Beware of Travel Scratchie Scams like 'Madly In Love Holiday' & 'Get It On Holiday'

The Commission is warning the public to be aware of two travel scratchie scams being run from Malaysia. The scratchies persuade people to pay fees to release a prize which consumers say they never get. The scratchies being distributed by Madly In Love Holiday and Get It On Holiday advertising their '13thAnniversary' are the latest iterations of this on-going scam. It involves glossy travel brochures which are professionally printed. The brochures state that large prizes are up for grabs in the two scratchie cards enclosed. One of the scratchie cards always reveals that the consumer has won a large amount of money, such as $190,000 US dollars. Consumers who try to claim their prizes have been told that a large payment is required to be paid through Western Union or bank transfer to pay essential taxes or fees before the money can be released. Upon payment they have been reassured their prize will be released to them. However, we are unaware of any consumers receiving their prize. If you receive unsolicited travel brochures and scratchies from Madly In Love Holiday and Get It On Holiday, we recommend you ignore this correspondence and do not send money. Scammers rely on some people believing the prize is genuine and then sending money. In 2015 the Commission warned of other Malaysian scratchie scams called Blazing Whale and November Rain. The Department of Internal Affairs has registered around 150 different 'travel agency' names to date using this scam.

This mail scratchie scam is targeting you

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is warning seniors to be on high alert, regarding a mail scratchie scam that's traced back to Malaysia. The scam involves a brochure from a fake travel company called Sweet Summer Tour, which contains two scratchies that are allegedly part of a promotion to celebrate the company's 13 year anniversary as a business. The company lists a variety of well-known brands as "official partners" in the competition including IT giant Seagate and Trip Advisor. Seagate and Trip Advisor have been quick to distance themselves. A spokeswoman for Seagate said that the company wasn't affiliated with Sweet Summer Tour. The use of their name and logo is not authorized. The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) website reiterated the warnings about scratchie scams.

If you feel you've been a victim to a scam and would like to report it, or simply want more information, you can visit the ACCC's Scam watch website for further details.

We are providing the Spam Checker Tool for your convenience. Here you can enter the email or the contact number that you suspect to be a scam. This tool checks it with our spam database list and ensure you regarding the email or the phone number is real one or the bogus.

Report scam to United States government-you could file a complaint about scam or other crime here.

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