‘No Scams’
courtesy of ‘ivanpw’
WTOP brings us a story of a lottery scam going on in the Virginia area: men claiming to be illegal immigrants who have won money in the lottery which they cannot collect offer to share in the winnings if their victim will help them. The mark provides some sort of deposit or fronts “their share” of the winnings in cash and eventually discovers there’s not really a winning ticket.
There’s a sad irony that the lottery has extended out to sucker even people who don’t play, but the real lesson here is that when someone approaches you on the street with an odd offer that will enrich you in some way it is almost certainly a scam. Winning lotto tickets, “extra” stereo speakers that turn out to be bricks in a box, “designer” watches by Rolux.
That’s not to say the street vendor doesn’t occupy a beloved place in my heart, but don’t kid yourself that you’re receiving some windfall.
Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.
Hmm, guess I just did.
My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.
The amazing thing about every new scam is that it’s functionally identical to every existing scam: get some sucker to give you money because you convince them they’ll get something for nothing.
There’s one born every minute, I guess.
Nigerian “419” scam letters are old news. And yet people continue to fall for them. Sad.