During the early 2010s, many users of Tagged, Manhunt, and other social networking websites received emails claiming they had won hundreds of thousands of pounds through a special promotion or lottery program.
The messages often appeared official and referenced well-known organizations, government agencies, and major brands. In reality, these emails were part of a classic lottery scam designed to steal personal information and money.
Although many of these campaigns originated years ago, similar prize scams continue to circulate today.
What Was the Tagged Lottery Scam?
The Tagged Lottery Scam was an email fraud scheme that falsely claimed a Tagged user had won a large cash prize through a promotional drawing.
Recipients were told that:
Their profile had been selected as a winner
They won £830,000 or another large amount
Their username was chosen randomly
The promotion was sponsored by major companies
A claims manager would assist with payment
Victims were instructed to contact a representative and submit personal information.
Example Scam Claims
Many versions of the scam claimed:
The promotion was sponsored by Pepsi
The UK Government approved the program
The British Gaming Board licensed the drawing
The recipient's profile was randomly selected
A foreign service manager would process the payment
The scammers used recognizable names to create credibility and trust.
How the Scam Worked
A typical Tagged winner scam followed these steps:
A user received an email announcing a prize.
The email claimed a large cash award had been won.
The victim was instructed to contact a claims representative.
Personal information was requested.
The scammers eventually requested fees or payments.
No prize was ever delivered.
The real objective was obtaining money, personal information, or both.
Information Requested by Scammers
Victims were often asked to provide:
Full name
Home address
Phone number
Occupation
Age
Nationality
Alternative email addresses
Copies of identification documents
Next-of-kin information
This information could potentially be used for identity theft or future fraud attempts.
Warning Signs
Several red flags appeared throughout these messages.
You Never Entered a Lottery
Legitimate lotteries require participation.
Large Cash Prizes
Scammers frequently promised hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Requests for Personal Information
Legitimate organizations do not typically request extensive personal information through unsolicited emails.
Poor Grammar and Formatting
Many scam emails contained unusual wording, spelling mistakes, and formatting errors.
Requests for Secrecy
Victims were often told to keep their winnings confidential.
This tactic was designed to prevent them from seeking advice from others.
Why Were Tagged Users Targeted?
At the time, Tagged was one of the world's largest social networking websites.
Scammers targeted social networking users because:
Large numbers of email addresses were available.
Users were accustomed to receiving notifications.
Social media users often trusted messages referencing their profiles.
Similar scams also targeted users of dating sites, forums, and online communities.
Historical Context
The Tagged Lottery Scam was part of a broader wave of lottery and prize scams that became widespread during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Other versions falsely used the names of:
Google
Microsoft
Yahoo
Pepsi
Coca-Cola
BMW
Chevrolet
Although the names changed, the underlying scam remained largely the same.
How to Protect Yourself
If you receive a similar message today:
Do not respond.
Do not send personal information.
Do not pay processing fees.
Verify promotions independently.
Report suspicious emails to your provider.
Remember: legitimate prizes generally do not require winners to pay money before receiving their award.
Related Resources
Looking for additional consumer resources?
Related Scam Warnings
Consumers researching the Tagged Lottery Scam may also be interested in:
Did You Receive a Tagged Lottery Email?
Share your experience below.
Did the email claim you won money?
Were you asked to provide personal information?
Did the message reference Tagged or Manhunt?
Were any fees requested?
Did you report the email?
Your experience may help preserve the history of these early internet scams and assist others in recognizing similar fraud attempts.
Disclaimer
ThinkItsAScam.com is an independent consumer information website. We are not affiliated with Tagged, Manhunt, Pepsi, or any organizations mentioned in this article. This article discusses a historical scam campaign and is intended for educational and informational purposes only.
Related Resource: Lottery & Prize Scam Warnings
Is it a scam or not ?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it is a scam!!
ReplyDelete