Brain Handles

I was IM'ing with my friend Leo the other day, and he types: "Wow, looks like I won another lottery." Of course it was in reference to another scam, all those people sending you e-mail to tell you won lotteries you didn't enter.

I got the following today...

THIS MESSAGE IS FROM THE PROMOTION MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT:SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP BID INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD.YOU HAVE WON FROM THE COMPUTER BALLOT,THE SUM OF US $2 Million Us Dollars.

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement made for the winners of the SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 world cup bid British international lottery award programs, as part of our promotional draws, Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of
individuals and companies from all part of the world as part of our electronic business Promotions Program.

Note that your email address qualified for the draw, as a result of your visiting various websites we are running the e-mail business promotions for you/Your Company email address, attached to ticket number 100-309-7482, with serial number 513-10 drew the lucky numbers 3, 8, 13, 22, 27, 41 and Bonus number 12 and consequently YOU HAVE WON: in the Second Category.

Your winning number Ticket Number is. 343-221-8756 Your Serial Number. 454-17 your lucky draw Numbers are. 3, 8, 13, 22, 27, and 41 Bonus Number 12 your INSURANCE Number: FLS433/453L/GMSA, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of U.S $2,000,000.00 in cash, which is the winning payout for Second category winners. This is from the total prize money of US $26,000,000.00 shared among the thirteen (13) international winners in the Second category. CONGRATULATIONS!

Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US $2,000,000.00 is now in the wire system Bank account insured with your email address together with your winning details which won you this prize, therefore you should contact your agent and give them your full names so that they will Remit your winning fund to your Bank Account directly in any country of your choice, Under your full Names.

Please note that your paying agent, will invite you to their office in Johannesburg South Africa for your immediate payment, you have to hurry up and contact them immediately.

To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:-

MR. SAM WILLIAM
SOUTH AFRICA CLAIMS AGENT.
FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT
DIRECT PHONE:[removed]
DIRECT FAX:[removed]
Email:[removed]

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other information
provided above and below in every one of your correspondences with your
claims agent.

REFERENCE NUMBER: GML-S343-KKT-8811
BATCH NUMBER: 56T-DTH78-SAR99

South African 2010 world cup bid international lottery award program is a
bonus for the whole world for the 2010 soccer world.
Congratulations'' once again from all our staff for being part of our
promotions program.

Sincerely,

THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY.
2nd Floor SABC
Universal Building
P.O. Box 91711,
Auckland Park, 2006 Henley Road.
Johannesburg, South Africa.
MR.Darlington Bri

The scam on these is one of both of the following two:

• They tell you they need your banking/personal information to wire you the money, then use the information to commit identity theft, empty your accounts, etc.
• It's an advance fee scam, like the person who wants you to help transfer millions of dollars (of which you'll receive a percentage). They keep coming up roadblocks that are keeping the money from being transferred to you, but which can be overcome if you send them money to pay a filing fee, documentation fee, lawyer's fee, or even a bribe to a government official. They'll keep coming up with newer and bigger fees until you finally get wise.

As the famous saying from Publishers Clearing House goes: "You can't win if you don't enter."

If it's a lottery you never heard of and you never entered... it's a scam.