# Is this a new scam, or an old one? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-new-scam-or-an-old-one/309443 "2005-06-22T21:44:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-new-scam-or-an-old-one/309443/1 "2005-06-22T21:44:06Z")
All right, first off, I definitely recognize this as a scam, but I wonder if it was a new one, or a well-known one I just got hit with: > [@](#): > > Sir/Madam, > We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners > International programs held on the 20th of june 2005, your e-mail address > attached to ticket number ####### with serial Number %%%%%%%%% > drew lucky numbers \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* which consequently won in the 2nd > category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of > Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$500,000) > CONGRATULATIONS!!! > Due to some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning > information confidential until you file for your claim. This is part of our > security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this > program by some participants. > All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn > from over 30,000 company and 70,000,000 individual email addresses and > names from all over the World. This promotional program takes place > every year.This lottery was promoted and sponsored by some eminent > personalities who do not wish to declare their identity for security reasons. > To file for your claim, please contact our fiducial Agent: > Mr. larry Jones > TELE $$$$$$$$$$ > [Email::larryjones1@sify.com](mailto:Email::larryjones1@sify.com) > Remember, all winning must be processed not later than 20th of july > 2005 or when authentic proof is given for the delay of filing your winning > claim. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and > complications, remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all > correspondence. > Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent > as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of > staff for being a Winner in our promotional program. > Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified. > Sincerely yours, > Mrs. Rita Adams. > Lottery Co-ordinator. > REPLY TO THIS EMAIL [ADDRESS:::larryjones@pcpostal.com](mailto:ADDRESS:::larryjones@pcpostal.com) or > [larryjones1@sify.com](mailto:larryjones1@sify.com) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-new-scam-or-an-old-one/309443/2 "2005-06-22T21:50:37Z")
I don’t see anything immediately scammy, but I bet if you call the phone number, a computer (or maybe person, but I doubt it) will ask you to enter your social security number and your bank acount number so your “winnings” can be transferred directly to you. Which means it’s the same ol’ identity theft scam in new wrappings. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-new-scam-or-an-old-one/309443/3 "2005-06-22T21:54:40Z")
Yep, it’s a pretty standard advance fee scam; they build you up, get you hooked, then at the last moment, ask you to pay (in advance) a ‘transfer fee’ or an ‘account setup fee’ or ‘capital gains taxes’ or some such; you cough up the cash and they disappear into the sunset with it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-new-scam-or-an-old-one/309443/4 "2005-06-22T22:57:10Z")
I received my first Lottery Scam, amongst all the various Nigeria Scam e-mails, on October 22, 2003, so it’s been going on for at least that long. (I save most of my scam e-mails, out of interest to see how they evolve over time.) It was also about that time that I started to receive Nigeria-Scam type e-mails from countries outside of Africa (purportedly). This is my first one: > [@](#): > > E.A.A.S Lottery Headquarters: > Customer Service > 580 N. Tenth Street > Sacramento, CA 85914 > Euro - Afro Asian Sweepstake Lottery > an Affiliate of watergate inc. > Arena Complex Km 18 Route de Rufisque > I.P.P Award Dept. > johannesburg, south africa. > Ref: EAASL/941OYI/02 > Batch: 12/25/DC34 > WINNING NOTIFICATION: > We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro - Afro Asian Sweepstake > Lottery International programs held on the 1st of May 2003 in Dakar > Senegal. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: xxxxxxxx > with Serial number xxxxx drew the lucky numbers: xxxxxxxx, > which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category. > You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of > US$2,500,000.00 (Two million, five hundred thousand, United States > Dollars) in cash > credited to file PC/9080118308/02. This is from a total cash prize of > US $ 25 Million dollars, shared amongst the first Fifty (50) lucky > winners in this category. > Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European > booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. > In view of this, your US$2,500,000.00 (Two million, five hundred > thousand,United States Dollars) would be released to you by our security > firm > in Europe. Our European agent will immediately commence the process to > facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. > All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site > through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies. This > promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised > to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is > processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to > claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid > double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous > elements. Please be warned. > To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent: > Mr Henry James > Watergate inc > Email:xxxxxxxxxxxx > To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your > reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated > agent. > Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program. > Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program. > Sincerely, > Sir John Void, > AFRO-ASIAN Zonal Coordinator. These are my winnings to date: WORLDWIDE PREMIER LOTTO, UK: £7,500,000 (3 times!) GOLDEN LOTTERY U.K.: £6,500,000.00 PROTEA GAMES SOUTH AFRICA: $2,500,000.00 INTERNATIONALSWEEPSTAKES LOTTO (UK): $5,500,000.00 THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY: £500,000.00 luckydaylottopromo international: $3,000,000 (twice) FORTUNE CITY LOTTERY (Netherlands): 5,000,000.00 EURO The Big Lottery Fund (NCVO) (UK): £275,033.00 UNIVERSAL STAKES Lottery Program: 2,000,000 EUROS Pretty damn impressive, no? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-new-scam-or-an-old-one/309443/5 "2005-06-23T00:26:46Z")
It’s been going on for decades. They tried the same scam with the Irish Sweepstakes. Hey **Colibri** - did ya know that the Nigerian Oil Scam comes under the juristiction of the Secret Service? Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-new-scam-or-an-old-one/309443/6 "2005-06-23T00:28:01Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Pretty damn impressive, no? Can I have $15,000 for a honeymoon? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-new-scam-or-an-old-one/309443/7 "2005-06-23T00:40:18Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Can I have $15,000 for a honeymoon? Sure, no prob. Send me your bank account number, Social Security number, and your credit card number, and I’ll mail you a check right away. But make sure you keep this all strictly confidential! 🙂