Today is my lucky day! I got this letter in the mail from Spain to tell me that I just won €615,810 in La Primitiva Lottery!
It was sorely tempting to do what the prize letter asked – fax back the acceptance form with my personal details including bank account to which my riches would be transferred. But keep it secret for the time being. Oh, and just agree to pay them 10% commission.
Right. The temptation lasted less than two nanoseconds.
It’s a scam, of course.
The letter is good, though, as you can see from the screenshot (click it for a larger and clearer image). It came in a nice envelope and with a real stamp. I can see why many people who receive the same letter may well be tempted to send off the form that accompanied the letter with all their personal data. And maybe even cough up that €61,000 commission – still plenty left over.
If you get such a letter, don’t be tempted! Just Google La Primitiva Lottery. And Grupo Bilbao Security Company, the firm that would handle the payment of your winnings.
The phrase “internet fraud” or similar appears in every search result.
4 responses to “If it looks too good to be true…”
Happy to hear you were selected as a winner Neville. Even happier you didn’t fall for it. I work for the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida in the U.S. and see these frauds on a daily basis. As communications director for my bureau, it’s exasperating now and again to spend so much time warning consumers about this scam only to hear another person has taken the bait. The sad part is most of the people who fall for these fraudulent lotteries are senior citizens who can least afford to be robbed of their savings. Cheers, and best of luck on your next lottery notification being legitimate.
Neville, dear, don’t bother claiming the prize. I’ve already won it. Twice, I think. ;-)
Sorry Donna,
I think I beat you too it! I’m going to retire now
Ted
Heh! Let’s all retire!