I received an announcement in the mail that I had won an international lottery. They sent me the check to cover the non-resident taxes, etc. Has this ever happened to anyone else, and is it legitimate?
2006-11-23 02:44:17 · 10 answers · asked by sweetness 2 in Games & Recreation ➔ Other - Games & Recreation
Update; it was by snail mail, I did enter a lottery online, and I have not sent them any of my own money, nor are they asking for any.
2006-11-23 02:57:21 · update #1
Wish I'd asked before I proceeded. Scam through "Inter-Global Lottery". I am pursuing protecting my identity through the FTC and other authorities. I have found out it is against federal law in the US to enter a lottery if you are not a resident of that country. This one was supposedly from the Netherlands. A "government agent" was "involved" from "Canada". All info can be found online and a good website to educate further is fraudaid.com. Thought I covered all bases to verify; I was scammed; even though I was suspicious.
2006-11-24 11:15:05 · update #2
I am assuming you are talking about SNAIL mail...US postal mail and not something you received in your email?
Surely you must know you don't win ANYTHING by email and these things are all scams to get personal information about you and others for more spamming purposes OR to steal your identity and financial information so they can get your cash and use your credit.
Even if it was snail mail I doubt it. Did you ever enter a contest? Take it to your local lottery corporation and see what they recommend. You may want to discuss it with the Police and they may actually have a crime or fraud unit that deals with stuff like that. Whatever you do, don't cash it, don't give them any further personal information, and just find out if it's legimitate. The authorities can help you on that.
2006-11-23 02:47:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you didn't enter then you definitely didn't win - it's a scam.
No-one ever won a lottery they didn't enter.
The usual way these scams work is that they say there are "charges" or "fees" to release your winnings to you, or to register with their lottery fund managers or some other story. Often if you send one lot of money they will then write back with another story asking for more - and this goes on until you run out of money or finally realise that it's a scam.
If you get one of these through email then report to the email provider (e.g. Yahoo). See my Best Answer at http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApdeNst591moKCub8lOhWznsy6IX?qid=20060822094049AAq9VIQ for information on how to do this.
If you get a letter through the post then let the police know... these letters constitute attempted fraud (obtaining money by deception).
2006-11-23 02:45:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should check with the local authorities and have them track down a possibly large number of these letters. If that's the case, don't spend the check and end up in debt to some random company.
2006-11-23 02:45:58 · answer #3 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i got that email sent tooo!!!!i was wondering the same thing. i won like 2 million dollars but i wasnt sure if it was a scam. i also saw pics of winners at the bottom. when i asked my mom, she said its fake and anyone could post pictures like that. but im still not sure.by the way, is it from a company in england or something?
2006-11-23 02:48:06 · answer #4 · answered by Blabbity 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I got an email yesterday stating I had won the Uzbekistan lottery - and i hadn't even put a ticket on! How lucky am i?!?!?!?
2006-11-23 02:46:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
SCAM SCAM SCAM!
Do NOT reply to this or send them money.
It amazes me in this day and age how so many people fall pray to this garbage.
"A fool and his money are soon parted" Words to live by on the internet...
2006-11-23 02:52:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you didn't buy a lottery ticket what makes you think that you won.
2006-11-23 02:46:29 · answer #7 · answered by ♥ Cassie ♥ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that is a total lie! you must have received an email from a soda co. or something i got one. they just want info. to ease identity theft. be careful.
2006-11-23 02:46:19 · answer #8 · answered by Poe 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I win everyday... and I have a bunch of rich relatives who have died and I am their only living relative (which is funny because I have brothers and sisters....)
2006-11-23 02:46:07 · answer #9 · answered by tapping toes 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-11-23 02:45:11 · answer #10 · answered by Sabrina C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋