ok...so like...a few days ago, i recieved a mail from Germany, it says i won a lottery of a quarter million bucks. the mail also came with a check....a REAL check. the letter also says something about paying the NON RESIDENT GOERVNMENT SERVICE TAX (GST) and like...i called the phone number in the letter and i kinda talked to a guy that was speaking terrible english and had bad connection. i think he told me to deposit the check and pay the tax. and something about the address of the tax i should pay to. does anyone have any idea what i am talking about, and know what i should do??
2006-11-16 11:47:36 · 6 answers · asked by luv ellell 3 in Games & Recreation ➔ Gambling
I must be the luckiest person on earth. I get about 4 of those per week. It is a scam. If yuo talked to someone, they probably have your phone number. If they mailed you a check they have your address. If you are under 18, it's time to tel your parents because there may be real danger. THey will continue to attempt to scam you by phone and mail and email.
Here is a good site to look at if you have any doubt.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/lottery.asp
2006-11-16 15:58:54 · answer #1 · answered by John L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without a doubt this is a scam.
Since there is more public awareness of internet scams, the scammers have reverted to scamming by mail.
The scammers buy mailing lists and send a notification of a lottery win "complete" with a counterfeit check to thousands of people.
They use VOIP numbers (or toll free numbers which forward to a cell phone) for you to contact the "claims agent"
When you take the check to your bank it might get past the initial security checks..
After 10 days the check is "honoured" (NOT cleared) by the bank .This gives you access to the funds.
The scammers ask that you send these uncleared funds to them.
Weeks,or sometimes months later your bank realizes YOU put a fake check in their bank.
You then have to take responsibility for the money.
The best thing you can do is to report it to the USPIS http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/...
When you report it, take the letter ,the check AND the envelope it was delivered in and put them in a bigger envelope.
If people do not report these scams they will continue
information on postal Lottery Scam
http://fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthre...
Source(s):
2006-11-16 21:30:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I already got an envelope from the Irish Sweepstakes and it had 5 lottery tickets in it. How anyone over in Ireland got MY name/address is beyond me??????????? They wanted me to send them $29 bucks. I kept the $29 and threw out the tickets. I didn't even know Germany HAD a lottery. Stick with either Canadian or American lotteries. What you described is a scam. They keep the $ and the tickets are for a non existent game.
2006-11-16 23:25:04 · answer #3 · answered by pinkrosegreeneyes bluerose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a scam. If you won a lottery, you have to enter it. No one wins an unsolicited lottery, except the operator. This particular type of false lottery got it's beginnings in Nigeria. Avoid this attempt to separate you from your money, IMO.
2006-11-16 20:35:19 · answer #4 · answered by Padrefan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so did you play the lottery? If you didn't play, how could you win? Sounds like a scam to me, and you couldn't hear and the guy wasn't speaking clearly... sounds like a weird situation. I wouldn't trust it. Maybe contact a lawyer.
2006-11-16 22:19:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No but i do play it for free every week
2006-11-16 19:53:35 · answer #6 · answered by Lilolme 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋