You Don’t Have to be in it to Win it

May 15th, 2006

It appears I have just won $1,000,000!

Evidently, an email address I never used was attached to lottery numbers I never picked in a lottery I never played. Interestingly, this Australian lottery is run out of the Netherlands and pays out US dollars in nice round numbers. This truly is my lucky day.

If you are like me, you get many of these phishing scams each week. The bait is this too-good-to-be-true offer of found money that starts a cycle of events that leaves you without some of your own money. This is very similar to an offline scam where someone approaches you on the street with a winning lottery ticket, but due to some “mix-up”, they are unable to redeem it so they will sell it to you at a lower price. The bottom line in both scams is that there is no winning ticket and you just gave a stranger your money because you were a little blinded by greed.

Here is the email I received:

Australian Lottery.
NSW Lotteries Corporation,
2 Figtree Drive,
Homebush Bay NSW 2127

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
CONGRATULATIONS: YOU WON $1,000,000.00.
 
We are pleased to inform you of the result of Australian Lottery, which was
held on the 12th, May 2006. Your e-mail address attached to prize winning
number: 3 7 9 16 27 28, and supplementary number: 37 43 drew a prize of
$1,000,000.00 (One Million USDollars).
This lucky draw came first in the 2nd Category of the Sweepstake. You will
receive the sum of $1,000,000.00 (One Million USDollars) from our authorized bank in Netherlands.

Because of some mix-up with our sweepstake numbers and prizes, plus the time limited placed on the payment of your prize: $1,000,000.00, we advice that you keep all information about this prize confidential until your funds:
$1,000,000.00 have been transferred to you by the authorized bank in The Netherlands. You must adhere to this instruction, strictly, to avoid any delay with the release of your funds to your person. This program has been abused severally in past, so we are doing our best to forestall further occurrence of past mix-ups.

This sweepstake was conducted under the watchful eyes of 12,000 spectators.
Your e-mail address attached to prize winning number: 3 7 9 16 27 28 was
selected and; it came first through an e-ballot draw from over 250,000 e-mail
addresses (personal and corporate e-mail addresses).
This program is sponsored by NSW Lotteries to compensate faithful internet
suffers around the globe.
Congratulations for becoming one of the few lucky winners.
With your permission, your e-mail will also be included in the next sweepstake
of $5Million.

You must claim your prize: $1,000,000.00 not later than 10-days from the moment you receive this e-mail. In order to avoid unnecessary delays with your claim from our authorized bank; please contact them immediately, and quote your winning and personal information now.
 
Here is their contact information:
Bank: Laagste Heypotheekofferte Bank NL.
Contact person: Mr. Walter Hawkins.
Director: Public Finance, Global Markets, Interest Rate and Currency.
Direct-line: Tel: 0031 644 893 611.
Fax: 0031 847 134 206 .
E-mail address:  bankdelaagste@netscape.net
 
Furnish them with the following:
(i). your name(s),
(ii) Your telephone and fax numbers
(iii) Your contact address
(iv) Your winning information (including amount won).
 
Congratulations.
Yours to serve,
Valentino Von Kahn (Mrs.).
Coordinator: Australian Lottery.

There are so many flaws in this attempt:

• It was sent to an inactive email address
• I never participated in this lottery
• Why does the bank have a @netscape.net email address?
• Why is the Australian lottery run out of the Netherlands?

I am also instantly suspicious whenever the words “congratulations” and “mix-up” are used together. I truly feel badly for people that fall for these scams. Considering it only takes one out of millions to for scammers to “find” money, and there is no cost at sending these emails, it is no wonder this activity continues. Don’t be a victim.

Entry Filed under: General

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