# Gee, I'm rich! - or - new type of spam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 23, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gee-im-rich-or-new-type-of-spam/291533 "2005-02-23T15:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gee-im-rich-or-new-type-of-spam/291533/1 "2005-02-23T15:16:45Z")
According to the following email, I have won second place in a lottery (that I apparently didn’t need to enter.) The prize is supposedly $1.5 million. Of course, I was supposed to keep it confidential until I had the money in hand, so I may have blown it. Ooops. Anyway, I’m curious what the gimmick is. I’m guessing it comes down to that bit about “In respect of our commitment towards helping the less previledge[sic], we ask that you voluntarily contribute 1% of your Global winnings to any charity organization you desire at your convinience[sic].” Somehow I’m guessing that translates to, before we send YOU any money, you need to send $15,000 to any of the charities on a short list of ‘approved’ ones we will send you. All of which no doubt have PO Box addresses at the same zip code. Is this a new scam, or an old one being revived? I’d never heard of it before – it makes a nice change from the 3 to 6 daily mailings about those funds tied up in Nigeria… =-=-=-=-=-=- AV 5 CASTILLA MADRID SPAIN FROM:CHEERFULGATE AWARD DEPT. REF: SUN/2010-968091/03 BATCH: 54/010/IPD DATE: 23/2/2005 RE: EMAIL WINNING CONFIRMATION NOTICE We are glad to inform you that your E-mail address appearsas the confirmed Winner of our last CHEERFULGATE email lottery program held on the 30th April 2004.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 20675543256-786 with Serial number 3765-75 drew lucky numbers 7-12-18-24-32-45, which Consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved For a lump sum payment of One Million five hundred thousand united state dollars(US$1.5,000.000). CONGRATULATIONS!!! This promotional program takes place every year. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system dra! wn from over 100,000 companies and 50,000, 000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.We ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to you. Remember allwinnings must be claimed not later than 7th of March 2005. After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. To file for your claim or for further details, please contact our agent Mrs.Julie Anderson at mrsjuliea12@yahoo.com.br In respect of our commitment towards helping the less previledge, we ask that you voluntarily contribute 1% of your Global winnings to any charity organization you desire at your convinience. Co! ngratulations once more from our members of staff. Mr. John Wood Global Winning co-ordinator * * * Use o melhor sistema de busca da Internet Radar UOL - [http://www.radaruol.com.br](http://www.radaruol.com.br) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gee-im-rich-or-new-type-of-spam/291533/2 "2005-02-23T15:24:11Z")
It’s a variation on the advance fee scam; if you actually went as far as trying to claim your ‘winnings’, you’d find that there would be some kind of tax or release/admin fee to pay first; you’d fork this out and never hear from the scammers again. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gee-im-rich-or-new-type-of-spam/291533/3 "2005-02-23T17:08:02Z")
This sort of thing has been doing the rounds for quite a while. I’ve had lottery wins in Spain and the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gee-im-rich-or-new-type-of-spam/291533/4 "2005-02-23T17:29:03Z")
I’m guessing that the 1% to charity twist is just a wheeze tagged on the end to help you drop your guard. After all, nasty scammers wouldn’t ask you to do such a nice, caring thing, would they? So it must be legit! Woohoo! Other than that, it’s just a plain and simple ‘advance fees’ scam, as **Mangtout** said. They won’t mention these fees until they’re sure you’ve taken the hook. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gee-im-rich-or-new-type-of-spam/291533/5 "2005-02-23T18:55:10Z")
Poor sap - I won that same lottery and got 15,000,000 euro! Too bad you didn’t enter. Yeah, it’s a scam. I didn’t even bother to try to find out what the scam was, so good on ya. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gee-im-rich-or-new-type-of-spam/291533/6 "2005-02-24T03:37:52Z")
Ah, well. I guess trying to find a parking place for my stretch hummer would get tiresome. On the brighter side, I have also been preapproved for an all expenses paid stay at a Florida condominium complex. All I have to do is bring hubby, and checkbook, and listen to a _little_ sales pitch… 😃