Dear Lucky One...Seriously? People actually fall for this type of scam?

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I just got this in my mailbox.

Subject Line: Dear Lucky One

Body:
My wife and i are donating 850,000,00 to you,Reply Name, Country,Occupation and Phone BBC News - Euromillions: Adrian and Gillian Bayford win £148m
Seriously?

Do people actually fall for this crap?:confused::confused:

Terra
#email scam
  • Profile picture of the author Fazal Mayar
    Yeah its amazing when you look at the numbers. People fall for scams still and its sad to see. I just don't understand how you can be so naive.
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    Blogger at RicherOrNot.com (Make Money online blog but also promoting ethical internet marketing)

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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by Fazal Mayar View Post

      Yeah its amazing when you look at the numbers. People fall for scams still and its sad to see. I just don't understand how you can be so naive.
      I'm thinking you meant you in general and not you as in me personally.

      Terra
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
      Originally Posted by Fazal Mayar View Post

      Yeah its amazing when you look at the numbers. People fall for scams still and its sad to see. I just don't understand how you can be so naive.
      Chances are, they aren't naive.

      Legend has it that they purposefully make preposterous claims in a crude format to segregate the easy, "winable" folk from those who are likely to be more intuative posing a challenge further down the line of the con.

      No different from an unethical salesperson taking advantage of a meek persona to close a sale face to face or on the telephone.
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    • Profile picture of the author socialentry
      Originally Posted by Fazal Mayar View Post

      Yeah its amazing when you look at the numbers. People fall for scams still and its sad to see. I just don't understand how you can be so naive.
      I Go Chop Your Dollar With lyrics (Subtitles)
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

    Do people actually fall for this crap?
    I suspect not, at all. But I think there are people who are themselves naive enough to imagine that others might, so they keep trying it. And when they give up, there are always others who try the same thing, so they're kind of "continually in use" even though they actually convince nobody. :rolleyes:

    The same is actually true of some of the flagrantly, laughably deceptive things you see on some people's "home-made sales pages": they're perhaps naive enough, themselves, to imagine that "it must work because otherwise you wouldn't see people using it". The logic is pretty similar, I think? :confused:

    Call me a skepchick, but I suspect that similar, albeit less obvious and clearcut, issues dependent on similar logic (the "it must work otherwise people wouldn't use it" principle, I mean) are actually relatively common, throughout internet marketing. :p
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

    I just got this in my mailbox.

    Subject Line: Dear Lucky One

    Body:Seriously?

    Do people actually fall for this crap?:confused::confused:

    Terra
    Terra; my first question would be "How did he know I was lucky? Is he psychic? He must be, because the e-mail says I have a a fortune coming my way. So that proves that he's psychic, when he said I was "lucky"...because only a lucky person would get money like that! ....and how did he know my e-mail address, or that I needed money? Triple proof that he is psychic, and that this is for real".

    See? Logic wins over all.
    Claude "Master of all logic" Whitacre
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      Terra; my first question would be "How did he know I was lucky? Is he psychic?
      No, he's not psychic, he called you lucky because he was hoping you drank the Koolaid flavor "I want to be lucky and make millions the easy way and am willing to be scammed to get it" that self proclaimed gurus are giving away free all over the net."

      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      He must be, because the e-mail says I have a a fortune coming my way. So that proves that he's psychic, when he said I was "lucky"...because only a lucky person would get money like that!
      That's what all of the Koolaid drinkers say. :rolleyes:

      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      ....and how did he know my e-mail address,
      He read it on the internet and everything on the internet is true...to Koolaid drinkers.

      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      or that I needed money?
      Who doesn't?

      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      Triple proof that he is psychic, and that this is for real".
      Proof that you had him make your Koolaid a triple.

      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      See? Logic wins over all.
      Yeah, all drunken Koolaid drinkers.

      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      Claude "Master of all logic" Whitacre
      Nope! Claude "Master of Koolaidaholics" Whitacre


      Terra
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      • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
        Its interesting to know how the brain thinks when it is in desperation.

        Whether in survival situations or for need of money.

        Sometimes they know its stupid, but they are at the stage where they are either not thinking straight or they just want to try their luck at it since they are desperate after all.
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        Pain is a perception, so is defeat & happiness!
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by Newbieee View Post

          Its interesting to know how the brain thinks when it is in desperation.

          Whether in survival situations or for need of money.

          Sometimes they know its stupid, but they are at the stage where they are either not thinking straight or they just want to try their luck at it since they are desperate after all.
          That's a pretty insightful piece of reasoning. Thanks.
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          One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

        No, he's not psychic, he called you lucky because he was hoping you drank the Koolaid flavor "I want to be lucky and make millions the easy way and am willing to be scammed to get it" that self proclaimed gurus are giving away free all over the net."



        That's what all of the Koolaid drinkers say. :rolleyes:



        He read it on the internet and everything on the internet is true...to Koolaid drinkers.



        Who doesn't?



        Proof that you had him make your Koolaid a triple.



        Yeah, all drunken Koolaid drinkers.



        Nope! Claude "Master of Koolaidaholics" Whitacre


        Terra
        Terra; Was that fun for you?

        My pet hamster died from a Koolaid overdose. Grape. You just brought back a flood of memories that I spend 10 years of therapy to repress.

        Terra, the Terrable Hamster hating Bully.


        This post was a joke.
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        • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          Terra; Was that fun for you?

          My pet hamster died from a Koolaid overdose. Grape. You just brought back a flood of memories that I spend 10 years of therapy to repress.

          Terra, the Terrable Hamster hating Bully.


          This post was a joke.
          I'm the Hamster hating Bully?

          I'm not the one who overdosed my pet hamster on grape Koolaid!

          I think you need to go back to therapy and learn how to take responsibility for your own actions!

          Was this fun for me? Oh, yeah!

          Terra

          This post was a joke too.
          ; )
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

            I'm the Hamster hating Bully?

            I'm not the one who overdosed my pet hamster on grape Koolaid!

            I think you need to go back to therapy and learn how to take responsibility for your own actions!

            Was this fun for me? Oh, yeah!

            Terra

            This post was a joke too.
            ; )
            That's pretty funny. I didn't see that coming.
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            • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
              Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

              That's pretty funny. I didn't see that coming.
              Thank you! I do have my moments.

              Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    Too much caffeine today, Claude?
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    Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author serryjw
    Watch American Greed on CNBC..the answer is yes!
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    For every scam, there are people who will be pulled in. Not all are naive - some are just greedy and hoping to get their hands on the bucks whether it's legal or not.

    Think back to a few times you've been fooled online. It's not so terribly hard to come up with something that will make some money at someone else's expense if you decide money is more important than integrity.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Ironically, it takes advantage of banking laws and customs. If banks were obligated to clear in a timely manner, and allowed to force people to wait, people could spend all the money they got, and the nigerian scam would be HISTORY! Look at THIS guy: Frank Abagnale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia IMAGINE if they had to work quickly, and were obligated on both sides! Abagnale would never have happened, kiting wouldn't work, and the nigerian scam would never work.

    Alas, banks can take FOREVER to clear checks, and must credit early. So there is a period of a day or so to maybe a month when you can't trust that you actually have the money.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author SandraLarkin
    Banned
    Maybe late in the 90s early 2000s this worked. Not much anymore.
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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      Terra; my first question would be "How did he know I was lucky? Is he psychic? He must be, because the e-mail says I have a a fortune coming my way. So that proves that he's psychic, when he said I was "lucky"...because only a lucky person would get money like that! ....and how did he know my e-mail address, or that I needed money? Triple proof that he is psychic, and that this is for real".

      See? Logic wins over all.
      Claude "Master of all logic" Whitacre

      Yep, no doubt your whole street is lucky, it is only the dumb ones that go for it, that end up unlucky! :rolleyes:


      Also true that when you are desperate this sort of crap makes an appearance.

      I tried something once because l was at a low point, but it just ended up making things worse.

      When at a low point keep an eye out for genuine offers that require work or study to develop, not some GRQ crap.


      Shane


      PS.....

      *******CONGRATULATIONS*****,
      YOU ARE A LUCKY WINNER OF 1,000,000,000,000 DOLLARS, JUST SEND ME YOUR LIFE'S SAVINGS FOR POSTAGE AND HANDLING BY A TEAM OF ARMED GUARDS AND 20 DUMP TRUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      This offer is purely ficticious, and has no reference to anyone alive or dead, and no kittens were hurt during the writing of this crap!

      Hmmmm, what was the name of Claude's therapist????



      He, he couldn't resist, LOL!
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    I had a coworker that was very intelligent, advanced degrees, very distinguished, an older gentleman, very well established, not desperate, etc. etc. to send his and his wife's address/phone/email/etc.

    When asked why he did it he said that he was pretty sure it couldn't be true but there may be a chance so he was willing to give it a shot.

    After I explained how it all worked, he cut off all contact with them.

    So it's not just the desperate hickabilly types that fall for this.

    Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author iLyn
    Unfortunately yes Terra, my husband actually received an email like this one and I can tell by the way he looks, 85% he believes it!! I almost hit him with my frying pan!
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by iLyn View Post

      Unfortunately yes Terra, my husband actually received an email like this one and I can tell by the way he looks, 85% he believes it!! I almost hit him with my frying pan!

      I remember as a teenager, sitting around the dining room table with our Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes form. My family would debate which we would get, the new home or the $250,000 in cash.

      We honestly thought we had a 50/50 chance of winning...or better.

      Sigh....we were hicks from a small rural town.....we believed every door to door salesman, my parents played the lottery (My day spent thousands of dollars a year on his "system").....ahhh, memories.
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      • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
        Originally Posted by iLyn View Post

        Unfortunately yes Terra, my husband actually received an email like this one and I can tell by the way he looks, 85% he believes it!! I almost hit him with my frying pan!
        Hahaha lyn thanks for the good laugh.
        Hopefully not at your expense?

        Originally Posted by Art of Marketing View Post

        I swear I saw a trend in winning lottery numbers while looking at the numbers for last couple weeks!

        I know I will regret not playing!

        -Art
        Well, if you did win i cannot say anything accept its just pure luck.

        If you didnt, i would say, i told you so.

        Even if there is a pattern, it is a coincidence.
        And for the pattern to continue it has the same odds for it not to continue.

        For patterns to continue, there must be a reason behind it.
        Without reason, it is coincidence.

        It is a whole different topic, but i feel the urge to just share a bit of my 2 cents.
        (i have alot of spare change)

        If your daughter comes home every wednesday night late, there is a pattern.
        And if wednesday night is ladies night at the bar/pub/club, then there is a reason, and you know she goes there, you'll have a higher chance that the next wednesday, she will be back late.

        If for no reason she comes home late 3 consecutive wednesday night late, and there is no reason, you will never know if next wednesday she will be back early or late.


        So for a pattern to continue with a higher chance, you need to have a reason behind it.
        Whether its superficial like you belief in spirits or if God can control the numbers etc, you have to believe there is something behind it for it to continue in this pattern.
        Whether its logical or illogical, or whether ppl agree with you or not.
        You have to believe a reason behind why a pattern would continue.

        So could you pls enlighten me as to why you think the pattern will continue??
        (unless of cos you were joking and i didnt pick that up)
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by Art of Marketing View Post

        I swear I saw a trend in winning lottery numbers while looking at the numbers for last couple weeks!

        I know I will regret not playing!

        -Art
        Art; a similar thing happens to me when people give me their credit card numbers. The instant they give me a number, I would swear that there was a good chance that I was going to guess that number. It even looks like a pattern to me.

        But the second before they tell me the number? No idea what it's going to be.

        Our brain is a pattern seeking machine. If we don't see one...we create one.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by iLyn View Post

      Unfortunately yes Terra, my husband actually received an email like this one and I can tell by the way he looks, 85% he believes it!! I almost hit him with my frying pan!
      Haha!

      To eliminate that 85% of belief, have him read the whole article linked to. It says right in there that they are going to be sharing the winnings with all of those who helped them financially through their difficult time. Ask him if he did.

      Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Well, I, for one, know a fail-safe method of parlaying 5 bucks into hundreds of thousands. Just send me 5 and I'll tell ya exactly how to do it.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      Originally Posted by Art of Marketing View Post

      I swear I saw a trend in winning lottery numbers while looking at the numbers for last couple weeks!

      I know I will regret not playing!

      -Art
      Only trouble is, it may continue but most likely will fizzle out before you can benefit from it.

      I did that with Roulette, and eventhough l won a fair amount for the couple learning how to play it, it isn't a sustainable method.

      And yes, Roulette can have up to 8 red or black wins in a row, but predicting that trend is virtually impossible!


      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Well, I, for one, know a fail-safe method of parlaying 5 bucks into hundreds of thousands. Just send me 5 and I'll tell ya exactly how to do it.
      With a money back guarantee, of course???? :rolleyes:


      Shane
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