Woman scammed out of $400,000 pursuing lottery-sized fortune

Comment #20

myturn — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:33:27 GMT

This story demonstrates a very good reason why we should have state lotteries. If all lotteries were banned, we would see more scams like this. Just like prohibition, which was a gift to the mob, if lotteries were banned, more numbers games such as New York had before it's lottery would flourish.

Remind me, how is the war on drugs going

Comment #19

myturn — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:06:39 GMT

There is on born every minute

Comment #18

argentmann — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:01:44 GMT

It is sad to think people actually believe this stuff and send money. If I had a lost relative or something else promising me money, I would just tell them to deduct whatever expenses from my inheritance. Whatever I receive is more than I initially had, haha

Comment #17

Litebets27 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:14:46 GMT

Umh , a RN/reverend with $400,000.00 at hand to mail out to .......

Hey were does she work? I must be doing something wrong.

I hope her congregration doesn't get wind of this.

Comment #16

mayan27 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:04:55 GMT

Hey Barbos,

maybe you should select few of the phone number and play the lottery.

Comment #15

mayan27 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:57:52 GMT

I received one of those emails from south africa telling me i won 500.000 usd but had to send 10,000 to claim

it.I reply and told the sender to subtract the 10,000 from my winnings and mail me the check ASAP MY P O box which i never heard from since.

I'm from Africa,but no lie the Nigerians will ripped the life out of you with no pity.

AMERICANS BEWARE OF THE SCAM ARTIST ALL OVER THE WEB PREYING ON WHOEVER

Comment #14

RJOh — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:21:14 GMT

It's the 21st century. Women are independent, they WOMAN UP!! and take blame for their own failures.

Comment #13

barbos — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:12:23 GMT

I just got this one:

Dear Barbos:

Your email was selected to receive US$1,500,000.00 from the Canadian Lotto program,

Youare to contact Mr. Donald Elvis. with REFERENCE NUMBER:LSLCA/2031/8161/04, BATCH NUMBER: 14/011/IPD, SERIAL NUMBER 046560 forclaim: donaldelvis88@yahoo.com Tel: +44-7624-155259. provide your: Name/Age/Country/Tel

Best Regards.

Mrs. Lilian Wendy.

Yeah I need to hurry up and provide everything - harhar. They couldn't wait until I get old a... [ More ]

Comment #12

Littleoldlady — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:19:52 GMT

her husband needs to MAN UP!! When she couldn't stop, he should have helped her to stop. Geesh--she is stoopid! 4 years to recover? that's probably off by 10 years.

Comment #11

RJOh — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:06:42 GMT

As a Reverend who was a spiritual leader for others and a registered nurse who helped the sick and weak, it was probably hard for her to see herself as gullible, dumb and greedy.

Comment #10

dx123 — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:54:52 GMT

I was not going to comment on the actions of this silly person who was trying to get something for nothing over an email, but now I'm compelled to say the following.

Considering that she is a 'registered nurse', I would be very cautious as to her work ethic dealings with patients. Could she administer the wrong medicine to these patients or Senior folks in her ward or care? This could possibly be a reality for some very sick people looking for their daily medications to live!

I would also... [ More ]

Comment #9

ThatScaryChick — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:28:17 GMT

It's hard to believe people still fall for this scams. If you didn't enter it, you didn't win it.

Comment #8

grengrad — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:47:09 GMT

Another dumb person being greedy.

Comment #7

truesee — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:34:56 GMT

I receive everyday emails about long lost relatives and people who have been killed in an accidents with no living relatives. I have received emails with links to legitamate news stories about no surviving relatives. On several occasions I have received emails from President Bush, the Director of the FBI and from the Prince of Saudi Arabi. They all have asked for either money, bank account information, social security number and address. Immediately, these emails are deleted because I know that

Comment #6

RJOh — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:32:25 GMT

I wonder if such a lost can be claimed against her taxes? Would she has to show receipts where she actually sent that amount of money? If so that might be a way to reduce ones taxes during these hard times.

Comment #5

GamerMom — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:32:08 GMT

I sure wish i had 400,000 to send scammers!!! I wouldn't play the lotto so much LOL

Comment #4

justxploring — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:51:18 GMT

Bank of America sent me an email because there was a computer glitch regarding my statement, but I still called the customer service number on the back of my credit card and got transferred to the online banking department. Turned out to be true.

Anyway, if this woman is really lucid and intelligent maybe she's the scammer and is hoping for some sympathy money from do-gooders who read her story.

When Spears began to doubt the scam, she got letters from the President of Nigeria, FBI Direc... [ More ]

Comment #3

DC81 — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:50:21 GMT

At least the lady who got scammed out of 40K was scammed in person.... But this.... *Slaps forehead* Just another example of how older doesn't equal wiser. At least with the last story I thought there was a little open to some sympathy, but not this one since seemingly everyone was telling her to stop..

Comment #2

s5thomps — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:25:13 GMT

LIKE P.T. BARNUM SAID, THERE IS A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE! If it seems to good to be true, guess what it is. I hope the scammers get what they deserve, but since they operate overseas she will probally never get her money back.

Comment #1

Cash3Addict — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:45:25 GMT

Oh my god i recieved the same type of emails from Banks from Nigeria and stuff. They used to fill up my inbox last summer, talking about millions of dollars guaranteed to be mine. all they needed wuz my name adress, phone ss#, blah blah blah....basically were trying to steal my identity and my money. Didnt fall for it because i know a scam when i see one and im a computer wiz!

Its ok to be a hustler, but damn a scammer

Woman scammed out of $400,000 pursuing lottery-sized fortune

Lottery Post — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:23:20 GMT

This may well be the mother of all Internet scam cases.

Janella Spears, a reverend and a registered nurse from Sweet Home, Oregon, ended up sending Nigerian fraudsters more than $400,000 when she was promised a multi-million dollar pay out from a lost relative.

When she began to doubt she was sent letters from the FBI Director, the US President and the President of Nigeria. She still thought it was genuine and ignored the pleas of her family and law enforcement officials in the US.

She