An email I received this morning:

> Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 01:40:26 -0500

> From: ####@####.mx

> Subject: reference number: TFR/####/JPT Claim Now.

>

> FROM: GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY PROMOTERS.

> 82 VICTORIA STREET VICTORIA LONDON SW1 U.K.

> Tel: ####

> Fax: ####

>

> NOTIFICATION OF WINNING

>

> We are pleased to inform you of the release, of the recent results of the

> FREELOTTO INTERNATIONAL EMAIL PROMOTION PROGRAM held on the 20th

> April,2009.You were entered as dependent clients with: Referenace Serial

> Number: #### and Batch number####. Your email address

> attached to the ticket number: #### that draw the lucky

> winning number, which consequently won the Daily Jackpot in the first

> category,in four parts. You have been approved for a payment of

> $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State Dollars) in cash credited to file

> reference number: TFR/####/JPT. All participants for the online

> version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer

> draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associatons and

> co-oporate bodies that are listed online.This email promotion takes place

> every month.Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our

> European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play

> co upon. In view of this, your $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State

> Dollars) would be released to you by our payment office in The London.

> *********************************************

> To file for your claim, please contact your fudiciary agent immediately

> via the email below:

> Mr.Richard Smith

> (Freelotto Fiduciary Agent)

> Email :####@aol.co.uk

> Tel: ####

> Fax: ####

> ********************************************

> Once again congratulations...

> Cordially,

> Mr.Robert Hans

> Online Co-ordinator

> FREE LOTTO EMAIL PROMO

> Sweepstakes International Program.

 

Dear Mr Smith,

 

Congratulations on a technically well-executed promotional campaign! I don't know how the notification email made it past Hotmail's spam filter, but it succeeded somehow (all too often I find legitimate emails relegated to the spam folder!).

 

If I were a little more gullible, I might actually have believed that I have WON $2,000,000 USD with absolutely no effort or investment on my part. What a deal! But as they say, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Perusing the text with a closer eye reveals that, despite all the official-sounding, yet vague, misleading, and jargon-laden verbiage, I have as yet won nothing. It appears I am merely being invited to join some kind of lottery system... Without more information and/or legal definitions for the jargon terminology, it is impossible for me to decide whether I want to be a part of this.

 

I would be much obliged if you would be so kind as to give me the company number for this GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY PROMOTERS. I entered the phrase into the search field at https://www.secure.detini.gov.uk/crni/companysearch.aspx and came up with nothing. Perhaps you are in fact a Mexican-based company?

 

Have a nice day and I hope to hear back from you soon.

 

Cheers,

Juho William ----------

What a joke.