You've just won!

United States
November 19, 2007 6:44pm CST
Most days I can't even open my email box without running into three over-zealous announcements of supposed prize winnings. Those types of emails always make me laugh. They're poorly written and from total strangers half a world away. I can't imagine that anyone would ever fall for them. They remind me of those gaudy banners flashing, "You WIN! You are the 1,000,000th visitor! Click here for your prize!" And, then when you click through, you are taken to a screen where you have to complete three special offers to claim your prize. And, when you read the fine print you find out that you have to refer ten friends to actually get the so called free prize. What a scam! In my three years online, I've seen them all. But, I guess as long as there are always newbies online, there will be a place for the scam artists. What's the weirdest scam, you've ever seen online? Have you ever received emails that claimed you won the lottery?
2 people like this
4 responses
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
20 Nov 07
Hello beauty queen. I have also received many emails about the same kind saying that 'you have won'. I think that they are just scam and in most cases I ignore them though I replied to some of them and find them just trying to cheat our dollars by asking us to mail some money to theie designated bank account. Please never believe them, who are trying to cheat money out of our account. Thanks very much for your discussion.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Nov 07
Thank you for replying! I have received many such emails as well. I saw a news report on NBC about these types of scams and the people that run them. Often these scammers are dangerous and devious individuals. I worry that they will be able to trick many good hearted people into giving out their money. Often they try to appeal to a person's heart by talking about a sick child or mother and how they need money for their hospital care. Often it is hard to turn that down. But, these people are just scammers, cloaked by the secrecy of the Internet. I wish there were a safe way to surf the Internet without running into them. I am happy to hear that you were able to successfully avoid their devious plans. Be well, my friend. And, blessed days.
1 person likes this
• China
21 Nov 07
Good morning, dear beauty queen. Thanks for the best response very much. Last year there was an email notification from a Kenyan guy telling me that I have won about million dollars and we emailed back and forth to each other. At last I was asked to put some amount of dollars to the bank that he offered. Of course, I was that foolish as to really put money into his bank account. I was just testing to see how true it could. He urged me if I didn't email him and later he added me as his friend on Yahoo Messenger and chatted with me. I found some excuses to refuse him. Now he is still on my friendslist, but each time, I type "Hello", he ignores me. I would like to know more about his doing scam emails, but there is no way as he keeps silent without saying hello back to me. hehe. Anyway it is a nice and interesting experience to me. So that's way I think that those kinds of emails are just scams. They will never be able to cheat money out of my bank account. lol. Thanks again for your offering me the best response. Good day, my dear beauty queen.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
20 Nov 07
I get these same ones online myself. I have tryed to mark them as spam but I don't think it does much good they come right back. I know they drive my crazy sometimes.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
17 Dec 07
I get so many of those it is not funny. It is crazy. I also get the ones from overseas wanting you to give info for inheritance. I would have more money than I would know what to do with, if it was the truth. Yesterday, I got one from Bank of America telling me they had put a freeze on my account and wanting me to email them info., I don't even have an account with them, I knew it was a scam. Crazy, is all I can say.
@youless (112142)
• Guangzhou, China
17 Dec 07
Actually I have seen so many of these messages to me. Even when I browse a website, I can win it as I am the 999999th visitor. Of course I won't believe it. Nowadays there are really so many cheating methods.