If it is a scam or hoax, then of what nature and can it harm my pc?..Can the hoaxer be tracked down and who to contact to investigate this as I think this would be a most cruel thing to do...
Here is the email in its entirity....and thankx for your help..
mrs.linda (web-01@charter.net) +Add contact
Reply-To:payment_director_info@yahoo.com.hk
To:
Subject: Attn:Sir/Madam(YOU HAVE WON) !!!!!!!!
THE FREE LOTTO COMPANYFree lotto Headquarters:Customer ServiceAward Dept.Ref No: NL/174/490/FLBatch No:WN/0935-09 Attn:Sir/Madam We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 4th of January, 2007. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 418 8354952 518 with serial number 7321410,batch number 151085135,lottery ref number 6376527711 and drew lucky numbers 91-0-42-79-35-8, which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of £1,000,000.00(One million Great British pound sterling). NAME:Dever Michael (Payment Director)FINANCIER BROKERS UKPHONE NUMBER:+44 70 1112 1121FAX NUMBER: +44 87 1256 5434Email: Payment_Director_info@yahoo.com.hk Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified. Yours faithfully,Mrs.Linda RoyalLottery Coordinator
2007-01-09 01:40:03 · 32 answers · asked by ozzy chik... 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Ok thankx I understand it is a scam, but noone yet has told me if it could harm my pc for sure, and where do I send it on to for investigation so it is not sent on further..thankx again.
2007-01-09 01:59:04 · update #1
It's a scam, I GUARANTEE you.
It's a variation on the famous 'Nigeria 419' or Advance-Fee Fraud.
They tell you that you have to keep paying fees and so on, and you will never see any money, just lose money. Plus they might try to steal your identity.
Think about it, how could you have won something you didn't enter?
And as for tracking them, you could report it to the Police perhaps, but remember that these fraudsters send out millions of emails like this, so it's almost impossible for the police to catch up with them all...
You could also try http://www.spamcop.net
Normally an uncolicited email from someone you don't know only includes a virus if there is an attachment!
If you really want to get back at them, look at http://www.419eater.com or http://www.thescambaiter.com !
for more information, have a look at my sources below.
Whenever you receive an email like this, mark it as Junk email, or Spam, and delete it, then forget it.
For fun, I've also included some links in the Register.co.uk, which loves to take the piss out of these idiots!
2007-01-09 02:01:30 · answer #1 · answered by Our Man In Bananas 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just remember the old saying, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is". Legitimate ideas or business opportunities do not come to your email without solicitation. So if did not ask for it, it most likely is not legit. Even if you asked for it, it probably isn't. Just think for a minute. If you had a legitimate idea to make money, would you be sharing it with strangers. Also stay away from everything that is asking for money. You giving them money is the whole idea. Don't open emails that you are not aware of the source. It very well could be a virus. Stay away from any email that request you to click on a link and enter your id and password (i.e. your bank, PayPal, eBay, etc). They are trying to still your id. Don't believe the email story. If you need to, go directly into your brower and access the web site via normal channels and NOT the email link.
There are ways to track these people, but no one makes the attempt. Even if caught, nothing is done to them. That is why there is so much of this. It is going to be up to you to police your own PC. Just be careful. It is better to miss something than have your PC or your identity messed up.
2007-01-09 02:18:07 · answer #2 · answered by ThePerfectStranger 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Scam - I can't tell you the number of times I've won a lottery I never entered.
2007-01-09 01:59:42 · answer #3 · answered by JB 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't reply to this, it's a scam. Not to sound rude, but do you think companies are just going around giving people money for the hell of it. Unless you signed up to win something, ignore it.
2007-01-09 01:48:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to be more than a little suspicious of a mail like this - especially if you havent entered the lottery. Its a scam.
Remember: If something seems to good to be true - then it probably is.
2007-01-09 01:47:40 · answer #5 · answered by Dr Sixpack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a scam - all the lottery emails are. It is unllikely to harm your computer but do not reply to it under any circumstances, or give any personal information,
2007-01-09 01:44:14 · answer #6 · answered by Miss Behavin 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
if you don't open stupid e-mails like this, it can't hurt your computer
for future referance
and nobody on the internet will be able to tell you whether or not it's harming your computer
the best anybody can do is tell you it MIGHT...and that you shouldn't open these things
how would anybody else know?
good luck
and have a reasonably decent day
2007-01-09 02:05:38 · answer #7 · answered by retired 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great British Pounds (Sterling) jeez you think they could have done a bit of research before sending out this scam.
2007-01-09 01:47:46 · answer #8 · answered by ♣ My Brainhurts ♣ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes - it's a scam/hoax.
And yeah - Big Bird's boot rocks! I would love to have a set of those!
2007-01-09 01:49:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a scam. If there was no attachment then it won't harm your computer. Usually they don't do any damage, they're just a pain in the neck.
2007-01-09 02:57:08 · answer #10 · answered by Jack 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋