spam -lottery & money out of country

[inicholson]

I am getting a load of mails which either announce that I have won a lottery prize, or that someone needs my help to get money out of an African country in return for �millions.

I obviously delete them but I am curious as to what they get out of it - live email addresses? How does the scam work?

Anyone know

Thanks

[Pinotage]

Join the club> they can send out millions and millions of emails at no cost to them selves and if .001% of them get a response they're rich.

How it works is that you have to pay money up front (to release document - bribe official - pay bank fees whatever).

 

Its known as a 'advance fee fraud' or a '419' scam after article 419 of the Nigerian law, as many of the origianl scams originated in Nigeria.

 

See http://www.419eater.com/html/419faq.htm or google on 419 scam

 

Some people make a hobby of leading the scammers on. See http://www.scambuster419.co.uk/ for a series of hilarious letters between scammers and their intended victim who leads them a merry dance.

[mattie]

Pinotage, thanks for putting in that link for the scambusters, its the best laugh I have had in ages.

[inicholson]

Thanks for that answer - I think I will be taking it up as a hobby as well!!!

[HenryAdams45]

The lottery prize guys usually wants you to call a premium rate phone number to claim your "prize". This will of course cost you on your phone bill.