Beware of 'scams'

Further to my letter regarding the El Gordo Lottery, published in your column on May 27, I am now enclosing another letter from a presumably new scam group 'Lototurf Inter-national'. (Raymond Coatsworth)

Here follow some excerpts from a letter of notification sent to a consumer announcing his winnings:

From: The desk of the Vice President, International Promotions/Price Award:

Attn: Stake Winner, Re; Award Final Notification

This is to inform you of the release of the "Lototurf International" Easter Program held on April 6, 2007. Due to a mix up of some numbers and names, the results were released on August 7, 2007. Your name attached to ticket number x-8007891324-Z with serial number 7216-05 drew the lucky numbers 26-37-61-79-63-45 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of €8,250,000 (eight million two hundred and fifty thousand) shared among the ten international winners in this category. CONGRATULATIONS!!! ...

Indeed a scam. At this stage, we are well aware of such bombastic pompous rubbish. Ninety nine per cent of those lucky (?) winners know that such rubbish belongs in the bin. However, we must not forget the one per cent minority.

Yet again, I must focus on the application forms that come with the letters announcing the winnings. Don't fill them in, particularly the confidential information asked for.