Complaint Review: ElGordo Loteria Orimitiva

Today, I got a letter informing me that I have won 615,810.00 US Dollar in an ElGordo sweepstakes lottery (in Spain) and the money is being held by some security company by the name 'Santa Lucia' in Italy.

I will have to send them my bank information by fax so that they can transfer the money to my account. The first thing that came to my mind was that they could have just sent the check.

I was intrigued, as I did not understand this scam works. I could send them an account where I have no money so they will not be able to empty it.

Reading on internet, I learnt that they typically require payment for taxes, insurance etc. to some PO Boxes as next step. I also run into a site called elgordo.com, which says that lots of criminals are using their name to pull off such fraud.

Elgordo is apparently a respected Spanish institution which runs lotteries. I suspect it might a Spanish government agency , as in most countries only government can lotteries.

The website clearly says that you can not win their lottery unless you bought a valid ticket.

Anand
Irving, Texas
U.S.A.