The Internet has opened up new avenues for unscrupulous would-be business entrepreneurs who would like to have a share of our money, even and probably especially during a recession.
Last week I got an e-mail that began with the words, "We happily announce to you that you have won award of $370,000 at the London Payment Center!!!"
At least four things are amiss here: (1) Spelling. An e-mail that is supposed to come from Britain would definitely not use the American spelling "center" instead of "centre".
(2) Language. British firms tend to be conservative with their grammar. Thus, the word "award" would be preceded by an indefinite article.
(3) In Britain you usually still get paid in pounds, I suspect.
(4) Conservative British firms do not usually put three exclamation marks (or points) at the end of a sentence!!!
Scam letters often abound in s pelling mistakes and bad grammar: The following example is from a recent mail: "You are advice [sic] to send your full banking information."
It is not too difficult to spot scam letters. For instance, all e-mails addressed to "undisclosed recipients" are suspect. If the sender does not know who you are, he (or perhaps she) does not know whether you have won, either.
The sender's e-mail address often helps to spot fraud. If a British online lottery firm actually exists (I suspect it does not, by the way), its e-mail address will most probably not end with .ke or .hk. The correct ending should be .uk.
There are other ways of spotting scams, also. I once got a message from a "Google director" who used a hotmail account. Now, why on earth would Google use a Microsoft e-mail account?
If the e-mail says the sender is Obama's Foundation, the United Nations, the Vatican or Ban Ki-moon, it definitely is a fraud.
If, after all, you still think you have won a few million dollars (or euros or pounds), you should at least copy the name of the lottery firm or whatever it happens to be and google it. In most cases, a lot of other people have received the very same message and are discussing it online. There are some Internet forums that specialise in discussing (and preventing) Internet scams and frauds.
Those who send you "winning letters" often only want your information (full name, e-mail, address, bank account). They want your money and, in the worst case, your identity.
Last, but not least: take a skeptical approach to all "award letters". There is no such thing as a free lunch on the Internet. Don't forget that your computer has a delete button. Do not hesitate to use it.
Joel Kontinen is an author and translator currently living in Finland. His bacground includes an MA in translation studies and a BA in Bible and Theology. He mostly writes about origins issues.
Joel, Thank you for sharing this helpful information. I have never responded to thes kinds of emails, but I have to admit, I have never paid attention the the email address. Good points! Blessingsa, Teresa
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