Complaint Review: Santa Lucia Security Company El-Mundo Spanish Lottery

I received the letter, that so many others seem to have also gotten, in todays mail. I was initially surprised at the Spanish Stamp and postmark for 0.78 Euros, this was really the only indication that this thing was real--it was sent through first class mail with a hand applied stamp.

Upon opening the letter, and reading that I had been the "lucky winner" and my numbers "...won the lottery in the 2nd category." I was IMMEDIATELY skeptical at the letter indicating that I won 741,408 Euros in a lottery that I knew I never entered. After seeing the "lottery payment processing form" asking for all this personal and bank information, I really started laughing.

Having gotten over the laughing, I was totally astonished at the audacity of this person or persons to think that others would actually fall for such an obvious scam. More out of curiosity than anything else, I looked it up on a Yahoo search and found this website. It looks like this thing is really international, and it's evolving.

Here's the info on the letter as of today (28 Feb 05):
Letter dated 21-02-05 (21 Feb 05)
"Claims Agent": DR ROBERT NEWMAN
Claim must be filed by 21 MAR 05
REF NO: EMO/255126003/04
BATCH NO: 01/1362/AIY
Ticket Number: 193-0798750-062
Made out to my name, and mailed to my address.

Look Guys, this person or persons spent 0.78 Euros to mail this, plus the envolope and color copying costs--just to me. With this kind of overhead, and the widespread, international nature of it, THEY'RE GETTING MONEY FROM A LOT OF FOLKS. The fact that you're here, reading this, indicates that they didn't get you.
Congratulations.

Say a prayer for all those innocent people they DID get.

Sean
Manhattan, Kansas
U.S.A.