The Boston Diaries

The ongoing saga of a programmer who doesn't live in Boston, nor does he even like Boston, but yet named his weblog/journal “The Boston Diaries.”

Go figure.

Monday, July 28, 2003

I'm a winner! I'm a winner! I'm a … oh wait a second …

From: Van Dyke <coingogame@earthling.net>
To: webmaster@conman.org
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION/FINAL NOTICE
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 21:53:16 +0200

COINGOGAMES EMAIL-LOTTERY

FROM: COINGOGAMES PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF: CEL/2311786008/01
BATCH: 14/011/IPD

RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION/FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the of the COINGOGAMES Lottery International programs held on the 28th of July 2003. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 20511465886-629 with serial number 3772-99 drew lucky numbers 7-14-17-23-31-44 which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of One Million United State Dollars (US$1,000,000) CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three year. We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our end of year 50 million Euro International lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our Fiduciary Agent MR. RICHARD MYERS OF QUANTUM DIPLOMATIC COMPAN, TEL: 0031-612-481-990.

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 11th of August 2003. After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely yours,

Van Dyke.

(Winning Coordinate)

Wow! I won!

Woo hoo!

But I've never heard of COINGOGAMES, so I did what I usually do and did a Google search and imagine my surprise when a lot of mailing lists won, but due to a mixup …

Another Google search (this time, quoting part of the message) revealed some interesting information about this so called “International Lottery”—need I tell you it's a scam?

Didn't think so.

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[The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades]

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