MICROSOFT AWARD LOTTERY WINNERS, ITS A FRAUD?

This type of scam has been around almost as long as the internet has, and I never cease to wonder how on earth people take them as real. As Barnum once said; ... one born every second.

"and I never cease to wonder how on earth people take them as real."

a few things come to my mind:

has education got something to do with it? or, intelligence (some people are educated, but not smart)? or, fantasism (ever dreaming that wealth would miraculously materialize before them)?, or gender? or all of the above?

a study into this would make interesting reading.

It would indeed, from what I have read so far the trend seems to run across all social-economic lines. People tend to fall for scams of all types, notice the current ponsi scheme that has wiped out billions, and those people could be considered to be very savvy folk. Scams come in all shapes and sizes, greed and the quick buck seems to be at the bottom of it all.

when this type of scam first appeared (maybe 10 years ago), I must admit I nearly fell for it. I gave my personal details (without the banking info), and exchanged a few eMails with him, until he asked me to shell out money as fee for something. I told him to deduct that amount from what is due me and send me the balance immediately. Never heard from him since.

The approach is quite common, using a trusted name to get your attention, and then asking for a fee. the fee is normally quite small, but considering these people send this type of junk mail out to thousands of people even a small fee will turn into a very large net gain when multiplied thousands of times.

Langway:

Thank you for your answer.

A few things come to my mind too:

You could answer this questions with simple words.

Your answer is "Sarcastic"

It is not my question its a nephew, an internet beginner.

"RESPECT THE OTHER WRIGHTS IS PEACE"

p.s. MY FIRST LANGUAGE IS SPANISH

A

Hi,

Forgive me if I've offended you, but I re-read my reply and saw nothing "sarcastic" about it. IMO, it was the simplest way to inform anyone who's asking about what is behind these scams spams.

English is not my native tongue, too, which is why I doubly make sure my replies are inoffensive at the least and helpful, at best. Peace, man!

Langyaw

Your English is as good as many on this list and as I read your post it was very informative and on subject, not Sarcastic in the least, in fact it was a very good answer.

well done.

Thank you. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, as they say.

that was me up there. <LOL>

I would have believed it.

Buying a new version of windows is a game of chance! Why not big prizes?

Just about anything from Mickeysoft is a game of chance.

A late note to this thread, note the 809 area code given on the frirst e-mail. Then read this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_809

If they don't get ya coming they get ya going.