Lottery Scam Warning

lettie · 20-10-2005, 11:16

My dad has just been round to my house with a letter that he received, supposedly from El Gordo Spanish Sweepstake Lottery.

The letter was informing him that he had won rather a lot of money. It came in an envelope containing a Spanish stamp and Malaga postmark. There was a processing form in there, which asked for bank details.

I have read the letter, and I have to admit that they have done a decent job on it. It does look like it could be genuine. Being the overly suspicious ****** that I am. I have checked it out..

It is part of the 419 scam that has been running since the early 80's. Originally done in snail mail form, the scam evolved to include e mail. It now looks like the scammers are going back to their roots and using snail mail once more.

If any of you receive mail of this sort, please scan it into your computer and send it as an attatchment to [email protected]

Or check out this website if you are suspicious of any mail of this type
http://www.joewein.de/sw/419lottery-by-mail.htm

MUMMIBOO · 20-10-2005, 11:52

Thanks Lettie will keep my eyes open.

accymel · 20-10-2005, 13:42

Well as they say if it looks too good to be true it usually is

Thanks for the warning & link if anyone else recieves mail of this kind

Tealeaf · 20-10-2005, 14:03

Best thing to do is fill the form in with any old rubbish and then return it, with no stamp on the envelope.

Less · 20-10-2005, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

Best thing to do is fill the form in with any old rubbish and then return it, with no stamp on the envelope.

No, the best thing to do is fill the form in with some other annoying company that is also trying to con you, e.g. Readers digest, then they can spend a fortune trying to con each other and leave the rest of us to get on with life!

Swinny1974 · 20-10-2005, 14:48

There was one in the paper a while back and they were unable to trace were it was coming from, it sounds like exactly the same thing, but if you ask me who is stupid enough to send money off or give them you bank details, I know I wouldn't

lettie · 20-10-2005, 15:25

I know that most people wouldn't be stupid enough to send off bank details etc, but some people must be. This scam has reputedly made a fortune over the years, and not just from ordinary people, but buisnesses too. All the details are on that website which I posted earlier, along with other profitable scams..

Ernie · 20-10-2005, 16:26

So will Ray will be getting the drinks in tonight?

lettie · 20-10-2005, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernie

So will Ray will be getting the drinks in tonight?

Hehehe, highly doubtful Ernie. You know my dad..... when asked to bring a bottle for a party, he will bring a bottle of milk..

He brought the letter down this morning to show me, and said that he thought it may be a scam. It most certainly was..

grego · 20-10-2005, 19:18

Glad Dad didn't fall for it Lettie, frightening though really isn't it.

cashman · 20-10-2005, 22:02

just got back from malaga- NOT GUILTY lol, ta for the warning lettie i would never give bank details,but i know some that may fall for it,will warn them.

mez · 21-10-2005, 07:14

i got an e-mail off lloyds tsb bank online yesterday,,,,,,,,, but i was good i just deleted it , if they want me they do write to me, so i didn't understand why i was getting an e-mail off of them, & it was just after lettie had put this post on. some how i feel as if i did the right thing..........please beware out there.

grannyclaret · 21-10-2005, 23:35

thanks for the warning,,,,,,