I GOT AN EMAIL SAYING THAT I WON THE LOTTERY; IS IT LEGITIMATE?
NO. It is a common scam. We get these emails sent here too. You never have to send money to collect a legitimate lottery prize. You should never reply to these emails. You should never send money to these people. You should never give your bank account number nor your mother's maiden name to anyone. You should never run with scissors. You may even be sent a check to cover the costs and then you are asked wire them some money back - but the check will bounce (but sometimes not for months and then you are charged with writing bad checks). It is best not to respond or you can be put on a list to receive other scams. Progress is being made in catching these crooks (on May 23, 2006, the U.S. Justice Department announced 565 arrests in lottery and sweepstakes scams; on August 5, 2006 a scam ring leader was arrested in Nigeria), but there are many crooks still out there. |
