Source: sayanythingblog.com
With more than five million Americans reportedly having been out of work for six months or even longer, there’s no doubting the fact that a lot of people could use some financial relief. We all saw the frenzy that a record $640 million Mega Millions jackpot caused across the country with some locations even seeing a 300 percent increase in ticket sales.
Granted, any kind jackpot that flirts with a billion dollars would incite madness regardless of whether or not a country’s economy is struggling to regain its strength, but it’s probably safe to say that a good portion of the population daydreamed hard for at least a chunk of the huge Mega Millions pot.
The idea of free money is likely something that most people would gladly welcome into their lives. However, it is also a concept that criminals utilize to exploit what is still an economy in recovery.
Source: img.ehowcdn.com
Beginning last year, Scambook users began reporting receiving letters stating that they had won an egregious amount of money – up to $2.5 million. While many of these “winners” were undoubtedly pleasantly surprised, if at least on initial glance, the $20 processing fee that was also asked for in return had to be unsettling. And of course, there is your catch.
Over time, this random prize money scheme has not only evolved, but also become increasingly eager. Over the last couple of months, reports for the Financial Acquisition Agency, SKL Mobile Lotto and Northrup, Winslow and Partners have been posted with high volume by our users.
As aforementioned, SKL Mobile Lotto has upgraded the method by which people are notified on their supposed winnings. Rather than using the old-fashioned method of paper mail, smishing has become the choice tactic.
Combined with another company with a high amount of user-submitted complaints, Prize Research Intelligence, this lottery sweepstakes trend is definitely something to be aware of, with 573 complaints and counting against the four companies we’ve mentioned alone.
Source: adventuresincoupons.com
Although it is of course, solely up to you as to whether or not you choose to buy into any sort of unexpected financial award notification, if you never signed up for or bought any ticket for a cash prize drawing, we strongly recommend you exercise your best judgment in this type of situation. Being on high alert when these companies request processing fees and/or private information from you, especially over the Internet, goes without saying as well.
Not to beat this point to death, but with the economy being in the state that it is, you’ve also got to think that it is highly unlikely that any company has the resources to randomly select winners and give away millions of dollars at a time.
I am receiving emails that someone won millions in a international lottery and they wanted to share it with me for my information.Never heard of these people.
I had recently reported a lotto winning from the un. Since I did not respond they sent me another e mail saying since I had not responded they were considering me dead, and they were giving my winnings to someone else.
It is a classic variant of the Nigerian scam favorite which is still in use today. You get an email from someone asking you for help in “processing” a large amount that he “inherited” from a family member, or something along those lines.
As to commenter Robert above, he seems to be the object of a typical phishing attempt.