Apathy Sketchpad

Here is a “lottery” scam I recieved. It is very convincing because “lottery” is spelled correctlij:

From: unlimited23@virgilio.it
Reply-To: unlimited23@virgilio.it
To: unlimited23@virgilio.it
Date: 15-Nov-2005 10:46

DEAR WINNER
RESULTS FOR CATEGORY “c” DRAWS
Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the
Category “C” draws of (NATIONALE POSTCODE LOTERIJ).

We are happy to
inform you that you have emerged a winner under the A” Category,
which
is part of our promotional draws.The draws were held prior to
your notification. Participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from 4,000,000 names/email addresses of individuals and
companies from America, Asia, Australia,Africa, Canada, Europe,Middle
East, and New Zealand as part of our International Promotions Program.

You/Your Company, attached to ticket number 3322/6181-22,with serial
number 92-71 drew the lucky numbers 19, 21, 25, 30,41,44 (22), and
consequently won in the Category “C”.

You have therefore been awarded
a lump sum pay out of EURO 850.000 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Euro) in cash, which is the winning payout for Category “C”winners.

This is from the total prize money of �1.7,000.000 shared among the 2
international winners in this category.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Your funds
are now deposited with A BANK, a reputable BANK, insured in your name.
In your best interest and also to avoid mix up of numbers and names of
any kind, we request that you keep the entire details of your award
strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your
claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or
unscrupulous acts by participants/nonparticipants of this program.

Please contact your claims officer immediately, to begin your claims
process;
Mr. Arie Knowles
FIDICUARY AGENT
EMAIL: aknowles@k.ro
FAX:
0031-847-393-826
PHONE:0031-622-007-620

For due processing and
remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.

Remember, you must contact your claims agent not later than two weeks
after the receipt of this mail. After this date,all funds will be
returned as unclaimed.

NOTE: For easy reference and identification
find below your reference and Batch numbers. Note that you are to
forward this email along with your phone and address to the agents in
your first correspondence with them, whether by email.

REFERENCE
NUMBER: GLI/CLOL/CU17-C839213801
BATCH NUMBER: 18309-TH

Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being
part of our promotions program.

Mrs.Apel De Paul Allana
Lottery
Coordinator,

It is always important to allay people’s fears:

From: Andrew Taylor
Mailed-By: gmail.com
To: unlimited23@virgilio.it, aknowles@k.ro
Date: 21-Nov-2005 22:33
Subject: Re: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF YOUR WINNING.

Thankyou for informing me that I have won the NATIONALE POSTCODE
LOTERIJ, which I distinctly remember entering. 19, 21, 25, 30,41,44
(22) have always been my lucky numbers and I knew they wouldn’t fail
me. Please rush me my EURO 850.000 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Euro). I accept PayPal if that would be easier than a long convoluted
claims process.

Andrew

Apparently they don’t allow PayPal transactions at the NATIONALE POSTCODE LOTERIJ:

From: Arie Knowles Mailed-By: k.ro
To: AndrewTaylor
Date: 22-Nov-2005 11:22
Subject: NATIONALE POSTCODE LOTERIJ.

NATIONALE POSTCODE LOTERIJ

Attn: Winner,

We acknowledge the receipt of your email indicating your intention to file
for your lottery-winning prize.

Firstly, our ultimate concern is to ensure that winners receive their
winning prize.

Find attached the Claim Application Form, which must be completed, and sent
back to us via fax or email attachment for verification from NATIONALE
POSTCODE LOTERIJ.

The Claim Application Form allows you to indicate the mode of payment you
prefer and note that our aim is to serve you better and ascertain the
authenticity of a lottery winner.

Upon receipt, you are required to print and fill it correctly and send it
back to us for quick acknowledgment, kindly complete the Claim Application
Form.

We await your prompt response.

Best regards,
Mr. Arie Knowles.
FIDICAL AGENT/VERIFYING
HOUSE

———————————
Targul Online de Joburi . Participa si tu!
http://www.myjob.ro/index.php?m=jobfair

Attached: CLAIM_FORM_ATTACHED.doc (36K)

The attached file all looked very nice, and had places for me to write in my account details, next of kin, name, address, and so on. All very above board and legitimate looking, but there was one small problem. One small assurance they had neglected to offer me:

From: Andrew Taylor
Mailed-By: gmail.com
To: Arie Knowles
Date: 26-Nov-2005 20:56
Subject: Re: NATIONALE POSTCODE LOTERIJ.

Dear Ms. Knowles,

Unfortunately I fear I may have to withdraw my claim to my prize on
the NATIONALE POSTCODE LOTERIJ. I have just watched a documentary on
Channel 4 about a loterij winner called Hurley, and I fear my numbers
may be cursed.

Until I recieve reassurance that the winning numbers are not cursed, I
am sadly unable to proceed with this claim.

Yours,
Andrew

I haven’t heard a thing from them since. We lost all communication, as it goes. Oh, well.