Californians targeted by Spanish lottery scam

Comment #12

ChazzMatt — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 01:39:08 GMT

True, they said there was no purchase necessary (and by law there wasn't supposed to be) -- but often if you didn't purchase you had to send in a 3x5 card with your name and address or something else that screamed please throw this in the trash. The people who bought magazines got the fancy stamps and offical entry documents and postage-paid envelopes. :) So, psychologically you felt compelled to order at least one magazine -- and this was on purpose. These magzine folks were marketing pro... [ More ]

Comment #11

CASH Only — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 21:53:14 GMT

matt:At least there is/was no purchase necessary to enter the magazine and similar sweepstakes (boycott Publisher's Clearing House and don't order any magazines if there were an annuity-only prize). But to play the lottery, you need to BUY a ticket.

Comment #10

ChazzMatt — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 21:43:26 GMT

My point, pretty well clear I thought (but maybe not) was that in the old days with the magazine sweepstakes wars to get subscribers all that was offered were the 20 - 25 year installments which is identical to the annuity option on the lotteries. The magazine publishers bought an annuity just like the lotteries do today. And that's how you got your money and nobody complained. That was just the rules. You were happy to be gettng millions of dollars that you wouldn't otherwise be getting. I... [ More ]

Comment #9

CASH Only — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 18:28:01 GMT

My point is that sometimes, even in lotteries, there is NO cash option in lieu of the annuity. Annuity-only schemes make money (at least in theory) for the seller of the annuity.

Comment #8

ChazzMatt — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 10:23:56 GMT

also, I think everyone who actually plays the various state and mega-state lotteries here in the U.S. know that the winnings are paid out in installments. Even the old Ed Mahon magazine YOU ARE A WINNER sweepstakes were paid in installments -- including the sweepstakes from Reader's Digest. I remember my mom always waited for someone to knock on the door. :) And we all knew that NOBODY was handed a real check for millions of dollars. It was a large photo op check with the real money paid... [ More ]

Comment #7

bellyache — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 21:15:43 GMT

What's not the truth? How can you compare the two?1. Being scammed out of thousands of dollars and not gaining one penny! You lose money.or2. Winning money even if it comes through payments. You gain money.See.

Comment #6

CASH Only — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 21:10:48 GMT

Well then you're told something that is not quite the truth.

Comment #5

bellyache — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:59:55 GMT

It's not quite the same CASH. Because even if you win a million dollars and it is annuity you still have money coming in. People who are scammed lose money, they don't gain any.

Comment #4

CASH Only — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:45:40 GMT

Much like you won a million dollars only to find out it's in yearly installments with no cash option.

Comment #3

shalini — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 15:24:13 GMT

Amen

Comment #2

DoubleDown — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 01:23:38 GMT

How many times do we have to say it ? If it seems too good to be trueIt IS

Comment #1

bellyache — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:43:14 GMT

*sigh* People really need to do a bit of research before sending anything to these scammers.

Californians targeted by Spanish lottery scam

Lottery Post — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:21:00 GMT

Imagine receiving a letter in the mail that you're the big winner of a lottery in Spain. If it sounds too good to be true, that's probably because it is.This scam is known as the El Gordo lottery, meaning fat one . But the only ones fattening their wallets are the criminals behind it.It's a letter that seemed too good to be true to News 8's assistant news director Dean Elwood. $600,000 ... who wouldn't want that, he said.And according to this notice claiming to be from the El Gordo Spani... [ More ]