More scams - beware

First of all I thank those readers who send me the letters they receive informing them of their winnings. Fortunately, most winners don't fall for it and they just throw it in the bin.

Some winners send their letter to me to alert others. Unfortunately, there are those, albeit a minority, who fall for it. Here is one of those who send their letters to me to alert others:

Attached is a letter I have just received.

I presume it is another or a new one of 'those' gifts! Maybe you would like to warn your readers. Keep up your good work. (Raymond Coatsworth)

I thank Mr Coatsworth for sending me this scam and for his comment on my work. These are excerpts from the letter he received announcing his winnings:

This is to inform you on the release of the 'El-Gordo de la primitiva lottery' held on April 21, 2007. The results were released on April 13, 2007. Your name attached to ticket No. 528, which consequently won the lottery in the third category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of €415,810 (four hundred and fifteen thousand eight hundred and ten euro) in cash credited to file with Batch No. EGS/2551256003/02. This is from a total cash prize of €16,621,340 (sixteen million six hundred and twenty one thousand, three hundred and forty euro only) shared among the 31 international winners in this category. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your winning fund is now deposited with a security/clearing company and your winning fund has already been insured in your name. Due to mix-up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice, until your claim has been processed and money remitted to a designation of your choice, as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted claims of funds.

This letter speaks for itself. However, the most disturbing aspect is the application form that comes with the news of one's winnings. With a particular focus on personal data, there is absolutely nothing left out.

They ask for your name; surname; place of birth; your bank details, including your account number; your e-mail address, etc. They also ask you for a photocopy of your personal identity card.

I have no doubt that those who fall for it get well and truly fleeced. However, what makes it worse, once they realise that they fell for it to such an extent, the victims are too embarrassed to admit it.

I have been referring to this issue for years and, when I appealed for people who fell for it to write to me, I always make it clear that, in such cases, I do not divulge their name. Yet again, if you fell for it, you can write to me.

I assure you that your name will not be published. For what it's worth, you can vent your frustration accordingly.