I just received an e-mail this morning telling me I had won about AUD$1m in a Spanish lottery. It is amazing - I didn't have to buy a ticket to enter, or even bother to enter as it is done for you. I was lucky enough to have been one of the 25,000 selected from around the world to enter, and there was total prize pool of about AUD$150m.

The full script of the e-mail I received is in the expanded section below. I know this contravenes the agreement not to tell anyone about it, but I was just so happy to win the I couldn’t help myself. I have already informed my boss that I will be resigning once the money arrives, and he has kindly suggested that it is unnecessary for us to wait that long.

Having had both work and non-work e-mail accounts for over 5 years, I am amazed that this is the first time I received this type of scam email. I think I will frame it and put it next to the picture I don’t have of the first dollar I earned.

EL GORDO SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE LOTERY S.A
C / CORDOBA Nº 14 PLANTA 2-A
28089 MADRID, ESPANA
TEL.+34-635-084-228
FAX.+34-654-034-470

FROM:THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF:OYL /26510460037/02
BATCH:24/00319/IPD
DATE...10th feb,2004

ATTENTION> MR PAUL MASNICK.

RE/AWARD NOTIFICATION;FINAL NOTICE

We pleased to inform you of the announcement today,31st January2004, winners of the EL GORDO SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE LOTTEY COMPANY S.A PROGRAMES held on the 25th deciembre 2003.Your email address is attached to ticket number:023-0148-790-459,with serial number 5073-11 that drew the lucky numbers 43-11-44-37-10-43,and consequently won the lottey in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of EURO 500.000.00 ( FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EURO in cash credited to file REF NO. OYL/25041238013/02.This is from total prize money of US$80,400,000.00 shared among the seventeen international winners in this category.All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from Australia,New Zealand,America,Europe,North America and Asia as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted at every begining of each year.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured in your name.Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program. We hope with a part of your prize,you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$1.3 billion international lottery.

To begin your claims,please contact your agent;Mr. Phillipe Bailen Taylor ( KT,SSS,ACIB )
FOREIGN OPERATION DIRECTOR,
Email,eurocity_trust@yahoo.com
TEL.+34-627-088-881.
For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 1sth march 2004.After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA AS UNCLAIMED.NOTE:In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your claim agent.
Furthermore.if there is any change of your address,do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.Congratulations again from all our staffs and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,
Ms MARIANA TAYLOR LOPEZ
SECRETARY.EL GORDO SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE LOTERY S.A
TEL.+34-654-239-685