Who Needs J. Randi's Challenge?

[Fnord]

This was in my email inbox:

FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!

UK INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY [a Cox addy is given]

Ref No: UK/9420X2/68
Batch No: 074/05/ZY369
Ticket number: 56475600545 188

Dear Winner,

You Have Won: £500,000.00
Contact Claims Agent with the email below Fudiciary Agent: Mr. Terry Bledsoe Official Email: (a Yahoo addy is given).

Tel: +447045703203
Mr. Richard K. Lloyd
Online coordinator

What an ****** joke! Even worse, that this scam is still being run after all these years!

Now, if I had actually purchased a lottery ticket, or if they had used my real name or any other identifying text, this might have a different ending. As it is, ye olde crappe canne gets this one.

-Fnord of Dyscordia-

[brodski]

asside fromthe fact that you havn't bought a ticket, why would a multi-million pound buisness like the UK National Lotto only give their "online co-ordinator" a mobile (cell phone) number?

How stupid do they think people are...

Oh... right...
Nevermind...

[Big Al]

I'm familiar with the word "fiduciary", but I can't find "fudiciary". I'm guessing it means "Complete lying hound who tramples on the gullible."

[Questioninggeller]

On a related note, the psychics can simply predict their state's lotto for some quick money... or maybe they can't.

[JonnyFive]

I'm familiar with the word "fiduciary", but I can't find "fudiciary". I'm guessing it means "Complete lying hound who tramples on the gullible."

Actually, I think it's one of these (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmer_Fudd).

Better act quick, it's a "final winning notification." ;)

[TX50]

What exactly is the scam, though?

[JonnyFive]

What exactly is the scam, though?

You contact them because you think you've won something. They tell you they need your account and/or personal information to send you your prize/verify your identity/some BS. The scammers then use this info however they want - sell it, use it to steal your identity, take money from you, whatever.

[TX50]

You contact them because you think you've won something. They tell you they need your account and/or personal information to send you your prize/verify your identity/some BS. The scammers then use this info however they want - sell it, use it to steal your identity, take money from you, whatever.

Ok, thanks. It's a "phishing" attempt then.

[JonnyFive]

Ok, thanks. It's a "phishing" attempt then.

Yes, basically.

Sometimes, IIRC, it works more like the Nigerian scams, where the scammers ask for "processing" fees for the lottery. I don't know how many people actually fall for them, but I would imagine there's a few that at least give out some info. Even responding to the email would provide them with a valid email address for spam lists, if nothing else.

[JoeTheJuggler]

asside fromthe fact that you havn't bought a ticket, why would a multi-million pound buisness like the UK National Lotto only give their "online co-ordinator" a mobile (cell phone) number?

How stupid do they think people are...

Oh... right...
Nevermind...

Oprah had a story on a week or so ago about a woman scammed by one of these. It was the "Australia National Lottery" IIRC. Now it takes something that I lack to be able to go on national TV and admit that you're foolish enough to fall for a scam like this, so I guess Oprah and her experts had to treat the person fairly gently. Still, no one throughout the entire program ever asked the woman why she'd believe she won a lottery when she never bought a lottery ticket!

In the real lottery (which isn't very far removed from an actual scam) around here, they always use the "You can't win if you don't play" promotions to get people not to think properly about their likelihood of winning.

I guess falling for one of these scams isn't THAT different than buying into "The Secret".

[JonnyFive]

In the real lottery (which isn't very far removed from an actual scam) around here, they always use the "You can't win if you don't play" promotions to get people not to think properly about their likelihood of winning.

I guess falling for one of these scams isn't THAT different than buying into "The Secret".

I'd love for the lottery commercials to start adding the spoken phrase "odds of winning mathematically insignificant" at the end.

Not because it would change anyone's habits, or even because I think people shouldn't play the lottery, but because it would make me chuckle. After all, I'm the most important person in the world.

Now if you'll excuse me, Mr. Mgumbu has some information for me about my lottery winnings and some funds he needs moved out of Zaire.

[CynicalSkeptic]

In the real lottery (which isn't very far removed from an actual scam)

It's not a scam, it's a tax for people who can't do math.

[JonnyFive]

It's not a scam, it's a tax for people who can't do math.

I would argue that what you're actually buying with the lottery (and with most gambling) is the feeling you get anticipating your winnings, etc. etc. along with a microscopic chance of actually winning anything.

It's the rush that attracts people. As long as you don't get addicted or spend money you can't afford, that's cool. It's when people can't afford it and can't stop that a problem pops up.

[Cuddles]

UK INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY

International? UK? Does not compute.

You'd think spammers would at least try to come up with a name that makes sense.

[Warge]

I'd love for the lottery commercials to start adding the spoken phrase "odds of winning mathematically insignificant" at the end.

Not because it would change anyone's habits, or even because I think people shouldn't play the lottery, but because it would make me chuckle. After all, I'm the most important person in the world.


Nah, you are being mean here. I buy lottery tickets now and then with the simple goal of hoping for that insignificant chance to actually hit for once (hey, I won a camera once. Must be good for something, right?). I lke random chances, but I feel strangely odd when the cashier asks if I want to select a ticket from the ones they have hung up at a random number. As if a ticket from my "lucky number" would increase my chanses of winning... :rolleyes:

[JonnyFive]

Nah, you are being mean here. I buy lottery tickets now and then with the simple goal of hoping for that insignificant chance to actually hit for once (hey, I won a camera once. Must be good for something, right?). I lke random chances, but I feel strangely odd when the cashier asks if I want to select a ticket from the ones they have hung up at a random number. As if a ticket from my "lucky number" would increase my chanses of winning... :rolleyes:

But it would! Always play the same number. After all, it's due to come up eventually. ;)

NOT!

I can't talk, I play the lotto pools at work sometimes. I would just blow the two bucks on donuts I shouldn't be eating anyway.

[CptColumbo]

International? UK? Does not compute.

You'd think spammers would at least try to come up with a name that makes sense.

I was just thinking, "does that mean I'm elligible?"

I think that would be roughly $1 mil.

I'm tired of losing all my money in Nambian oil wells.

[JonnyFive]

I'm tired of losing all my money in Nambian oil wells.

It helps to invest in countries that actually exist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia). ;)

Besides, everyone knows that the country of Chad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Chad) is the new ticket to rich-guy land.

[Jon.]

Oprah had a story on a week or so ago about a woman scammed by one of these. It was the "Australia National Lottery" IIRC. Now it takes something that I lack to be able to go on national TV and admit that you're foolish enough to fall for a scam like this, so I guess Oprah and her experts had to treat the person fairly gently. Still, no one throughout the entire program ever asked the woman why she'd believe she won a lottery when she never bought a lottery ticket!.

I think these phishers rely on people thinking (if they think at all) "Wait a minute - I didn't buy a ticket for that lottery! They must have me confused with the real winner, who probably has the same or a similar name to me. I'd better move quickly on this before they realize they've got the wrong person!"

[Uncle Feedle]

Mugus at it again (mugu = Nigerian scammer). The lottery scam has been going for a long time, although not as long as the traditional 419. Amsterdam and Madrid seem to be the most common locations they operate from.

[Blue Mountain]

One of my favourites was an email saying I had won the Spanish Lottery. The name of the person to contact was something like "Susan Brown" :)

[Lensman]

Hi everybody, I'm Dr Nick - oopsy, wrong place for that name. ;)

I'm new around here, but I came across this thread & just thought I'd add my own tuppennerth (for those across the pond, that's sort of short for two pennies worth).

I keep getting those same e-mails too & it just goes to prove the old saying that you can't cheat an honest person, if someone realises that they haven't entered that particular lottery & wants to cash in on the lottery organizers apparent error, then that makes them dishonest.

Now I'm not claiming that I'm any less honourable than most other people, but I am apparently also smart enough to recognise when something is too good to be true - if something appears to be too good to be true, it very likely IS too good to be true!

[strathmeyer]

I'd love for the lottery commercials to start adding the spoken phrase "odds of winning mathematically insignificant" at the end.

Futurama, Fry And The Slurm Factory

TV Announcer: No purchase necessary unless you wish to enter the contest. Odds of winning mathematically insignificant.
Fry: I like those odds.

[Big Al]

I have a psychic power. If anyone merely tells me their name, credit card number and security code, it enables me to make predictions about their future finances. Never been known to fail.

[JonnyFive]

Futurama, Fry And The Slurm Factory

TV Announcer: No purchase necessary unless you wish to enter the contest. Odds of winning mathematically insignificant.
Fry: I like those odds.

Yes, that's the reference. :) Love it.

[brodski]

International? UK? Does not compute.

You'd think spammers would at least try to come up with a name that makes sense.

There are at least three nations which make up the UK. :p

[CptColumbo]

It helps to invest in countries that actually exist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia). ;)

Besides, everyone knows that the country of Chad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Chad) is the new ticket to rich-guy land.

That's why it didn't pay off!

Son of a gu-diddley-un!