Video transcript: Lottery scam – Stevie’s ScamSchool
Description: An email on a computer screen indicating that the recipient has won money.
Voice over (in an announcer style): Congratulations! You are the winner of Stevie’s grand prize draw!
Description: A fist goes through the screen, then Stevie appears, dressed in a 1970s-style suit.
Voice over (Stevie): Wait! This could be a scam!
Title: Welcome to Stevie’s ScamSchool
Music: Solo, keyboard music playing in the background.
Voice over sings: Welcome to my school. Stevie’s ScamSchool. Yeah, great.
Voice over: Hello, my name is Stevie, the reformed scam artist.
Description: Close up of a finger pointing at a certificate indicating that Stevie is a reformed scammer.
Voice over: I’m here to teach you how to avoid being scammed. Let’s kick off today’s lesson.
Description: Stevie walks over to a blackboard.
Voice over: Phew! This one’s a real winner. I call it the lottery scam. Pay attention, and I’ll show you how this one works.
Description: Stevie walks over to a computer.
Voice over: I send you off a professional-looking letter, SMS or email telling you that you’ve won a prize in a lottery that you didn’t even enter! (chuckles). How good’s that?
Description: Man at a computer looking excited.
Voice over: You open the letter and get all excited thinking that you’re rich.
Description: A thought bubble forms next to the man, showing images of money and expensive cars.
Voice over: Blimey! You start dreaming of sports cars, holidays, your conversation with the boss. But little do you know … the lottery is a fake. Kind of like this poor fella.
Description: Stevie points to a sculpture of a fish on the wall.
Voice over: Now here’s the part where’d I’d cash in. To claim your prize, I would ask you to pay a tax, or send me your bank details. Whoever paid someone to get a prize? I can’t believe I used to get away with it!
Description: Stevie walks over to a projector board showing an image of a man holding a horse.
Voice over: So next time, hold your horses!
Description: The projector displays tips on how to avoid getting scammed.
Voice over: Never send off any bank details to claim a prize. And always check that you’ve previously entered the lottery or prize draw, before you quit your day job. If you haven’t entered the lottery, you can’t win the prize. Too easy.
Description: Stevie walks away from the projector.
Voice over: So remember, you’ve got to be, er, in it to … win it. And if you aren’t, er, in it, I guess you can’t, er, win it. Pretty clever, huh?
Music: Sold, keyboard music playing in the background.
Voice over sings: Stevie’s ScamSchool. Yeah! Nice!
Title: Protect yourself. Don’t’ be scammed.
Find out how. consumer.vic.gov.au/scamschoolconsumer
Consumer Affairs Victoria and state government logos.