Scam Emails Awarding You Millions Of Dollars
Why You Receive Scam Emails
Once you become noticed on the Internet you may find that you are being hit with an increasingly large number of scam emails. While many may seem obviously a scam it is alarming that a lot of users are still being stung, even by some scams that predate the Internet by some considerable time. Scam emails are still increasing and recognizing a scam, in order to avoid it, is the only real way to beat these pesky emails. We've listed a few of the more popular ones along with methods of instantly spotting the fakes.
The Nigerian Bank Scam
First off, it is important to note that the Nigerian bank are nothing to do with this scam in any way and have been attempting to put an end to these emails, although so far to no avail. Typically, the recipient will receive an email from a former worker of the Nigerian national bank. The email will also indicate that the sender knows of millions of dollars that he or she can not access without the recipient's help. You will be required to provide personal details along with various other items including bank details. However, this isn't the point of the scam. The scam itself is to persuade you to help pay for the transfer of the millions of dollars into your bank account.
International Lottery
Typically, this email will be to tell you that you have allegedly won millions of dollars through an online lottery. You will not have entered the lottery but this is apparently explained by the fact that your email address was drawn at random out of millions of email addresses from around the world. In order to claim the prize all you need do is provide all of your personal details as well as your bank details and not tell anyone that you have won. Again, the handing over of all your personal details (to confirm that you really are the winner) as well as your bank details is something you should never do under any circumstances, and especially not to somebody you have never spoken to that has just emailed you out of the blue.
Deepest Sympathy
This is similar to the Nigerian bank scam. Recipients have received emails stating that the sender is an extremely wealthy businessman (tycoon, oil baron, etc...) and because they have spent their life amassing their fortune they have not had time to raise a family or make friends. Rather than feel sorry for them you are given the opportunity to help invest the money or donate it to charity. Again, this scam is typically used to extort money from you in order “to help fund the money transfer” but it may also be used to attain your bank details.
Too Good To Be True? It Probably Is
Generally speaking, if an email contains an offer that appears too good to be true then it probably is. The chances of winning millions of dollars in a lottery you never entered are extremely slim to say the least. The chances of a foreign business man finding your details and emailing you to help them acquire millions of dollars? Again, slim.
Don't Lose Your Head Or Your Identity
The promise of large amounts of money is often enough to cause a lot of people to lose their head. Stop and think before you proceed with contacting any of these email senders. These kinds of opportunities simply do not exist for the average person and the chances are very high that you are being scammed and that you will lose money or have your identity stolen as a result of replying to them with the requested information.