PROUDLY SA CONDEMNS 2010 TICKET SCAM AND ILLEGAL USE OF ITS LOGO TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC

The Proudly South African Campaign strongly condemns the fraudulent use of its logo as part of an illegal lottery relating to the unauthorized sale of 2010 Fifa World Cup tickets.

The Campaign would like to alert its members, and the public at large, that it is not in any way involved in the sale of World Cup Tickets, or related lottery scam and that any SMS, or e-mail in this regard, especially where recipients are requested to provide personal details, should be treated with suspicion and caution. 

The Campaign advises the public to immediately report any such perceived scams to the South African Police Service, or its specialised “419 task team”, on 012 393-1203 or e-mail 419scam@saps.org.za.

“The 2010 FIFA World Cup is intended to help build a positive social and economic legacy for South Africa and the continent of Africa.  It is truly deplorable that criminals would try to mislead unsuspecting soccer-loving citizens through the misuse of the trusted Proudly South African logo and brand”, says Dalene du Preez, Proudly SA’s Marketing and Communications Executive.

“The Campaign will continue to work with the relevant authorities and legal action will be taken against anyone who uses the Campaign’s logo and intellectual property illegally.  We would like to urge members of the Campaign, and the public at large to always verify the credentials of anyone they intend doing business with, especially when a claim is made, through the display of the Proudly South African logo, that the individual is associated with the national Buy Local Campaign”, she says.

For more information on Proudly South African, or to report any suspected illegal use of the logo contact Leisle Timol, Brand Manager on 011 327 7778 or email:leislet@psanet.co.za

More details on the latest 2010 ticket/lottery scam

The latest scam involves an e-mail which mentions that the recipient “was one of three lucky winners in a Fifa 2010 Award draw held on October 7”.

It further stated that “All three winning addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 5 million international emails. Your email address emerged alongside two others as a third category winner in this month’s draw. Consequently, you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of $750 000 only”.

Attached to the email are:  
Winning numbers: 7, 31, 62, 21, 74, 80;  
Serial number: 21-8-1974;
Lotto batch number: FL-10
Reference number: SBF-404-3

The recipient is, furthermore, asked to give personal details such as “full names, country of residence, occupation, age, cell number and email address”.

The email is reportedly written on the South Africa 2010 Fifa World Cup logo background and also bears the Proudly South African logo.

Source: City Press, Sunday 11 October 2009, p 13.