Technology in Society

This scam email claims that a fictitious furniture company needs an agent in North America and Europe due to tax rules, and keep 8% of the revenue for yourself.

Over the last 8 months or so, there has been a noticeable rise in spam that touts certain penny stocks.

The scheme works like this:

A quick look at Google Zeitgeist 2006 tells volumes about how people use the internet, and what is important to the general populace.First off, the two most search for words are "myspace" and "bebo". Both are social networking sites. The curious part is that people search for them rather than just tack on .com and type that in the URL.This is not a case of simply typing "myspace" or "bebo" by itself in the browser's URL, because most people still use Microsoft Internet Explorer, and it does not default to a Google search.

Here is another fake lottery, this time claiming to be from Microsoft.

This is a classic example of a 419 advance fee fraud email.What makes this interesting is the attempt to use flowery language, but coming out to be funny. Things like "humblelity". Another interesting aspect is the number of spelling errors ("rexpert", "surprice", ...etc).

----- Original Message ----From: joy koma <joy_koma39@hotmail.fr>To: joy_koma39@hotmail.frSent: Saturday, October 7, 2006 9:08:05 AMSubject: FROM JOY KOMAFrom Joy KomaDearest One,With due rexpert and humblelity writing you. And i know that my mail willcome to you as a surprice. I have a proposal for you,this however is notmandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will.Your profile that i saw in internet pushed me to send you this mail, I am joy Koma, 22 years old and the only Duaghter of my parents Mr and Mrs Ahmed Koma.My father was a highly reputable business man (a cocoa merchant) whooperated in the capital of Ivory coast during his days. It is sad to saythat he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business tripsabroad on 12th.August 2002.Though his sudden death was linked or rathersuspected to have been master minded by an uncle of his who travelled withhim at that time. But God knows the truth!My mother died when I was just 6 years old Since then my father took us so pecial. Before his death on 12th.August 2002, he told me about a box he oncealed the sum of six million, five hundred thousand United StateDollars.(US D$6.5) deposited in one of the security company's here inAbidjan Ivory Coast West Africa, which he disguised and declared the box to ontain family valuables instead of money, by this way the company does not now the true content of the box.The deposit document which I have in my possession carries my late father's ame as the depositor, while I'm the next of kin on the same document.I am just 22 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast. The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life.Sir, I am in a sincerly desire of your humble assistance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.Now permit me to ask these few questions:-1. Can you honestly help me as your Doughter?2. Can I completely trust you?3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for youafter the money is in your account?Please, Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.Thank you so much,My Best regards,JOY

Another example of a "winning the lottery scam email".

Another fake lottery winning scam email.

From: teresa allan <teresa_allan2008@hotmail.com> From: Mrs. Teresa Allan.Euro, Afro, Amrican, SweepstakeLottery Headquarters: 1a, BexonCourt Carlton Nottingham shireNottingham NG4 1SQEssex United KingdomCustomer Service: 580 NCA 85914Ref: EAASL/941OYI/03Batch: 12/25/DC34Dear CONGRATULATIONS!!We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro-Afro- American Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on the Monday 2nd of october 2006 in Essex United Kingdom. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: B9564 75604545 188 with! Serial number 97560 drew the winning: 02/07/22/33/38/44/, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 820,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds) in cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a total cash prize of M1100,000,00, shared amongst the first One Hundred and thirty (130) lucky winners in this category world-wide.Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Afrobooklet representative office in Africa as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your 820,000.00 Pounds (Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds) would be released to you by our paying Bank in South Africa.Our African agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000,00 companies.This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you areadvised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact our corresponding agent in South Africa immediately you read this message for quick and urgent release of your fund, contact information is as follows: -MR.johnson upper (Esq.)e-mail:johnson_upper@yahoo.caTel:+27 83 42 40 412Please be informed that all winning must be claimed on or before 15th october 2006. To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our designated agents or us.Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program that has successfully won this competition. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery Program.Sincerely,Mrs. Teresa Allan.United Kingdom Zonal Co-coordinator.Mr. Alexandra DavisUnited Kingdom zonal Secretary General.

Here is another sample of fake lottery winning.

CONTACT FOR YOUR PRIZE YOU WONMICROSOFT / LOTTO NL INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM Date: 2nd Octoberber, 2006 Ref Nr: AMC/231-ILGI0431/06Batch Number: EOS/15/096/TVFSSerial Number 472-9768-79Lucky Number:8-66-97-22-65-55Ticket Number: 20511465463-7655 Dear Email Bearer, CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNING NOTICE!!! Europe/America private international e-games organizers and Co-sponsors, MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL, officially bring to your notice of the final draw result of September-2006 MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL wheel E-game which was conducted at our international corporate office complex in The Netherlands . Most recently this foundation set up the NEW LOTTERY SCHEME to give out prizes based on COMPUTER BALLOT SYSTEM. By doing this the foundation seek to encourage the use of Internet for academic and business pursuits. It major aim is to promote music, theatre, art and literature projects in the social and political arena with a focus on health, as well as science, research, and higher education. We wish to congratulate and inform you on the selection of your email ticket number which was selected among the 10 lucky consolation prize winners. Your email ID identified with ticket No. 8-66-97-22-65-55 and was selected by our E-games Random Selection System (ERSS) with entries from the 50,000 different email addresses enrolled for the E-game. Your email ID was included among the 50,000 different email addresses submitted by our partner international email provider companies. You have won a consolation cash prize of $1,000 000.00 (One million Dollars Only). The MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL Group have approved a payout of your consolation cash prize which will be remunerated directly to you by the official Payment Agency Board. Our DUE PROCESS UNIT (DPU) will render to you complete assistance and provide additional information and processes for the claims of your consolation prize. For due processing of your winning claim, please contact the International Remittance Department Information Officer Mr. M Bruijne who has been assigned to assist you. Contact Person:NAME: Mr. M Bruijne E-mail: bigestlottonl@aim.comTel: +31-649-304-315Fax: +31-847-539-161 You are advised to provide him with the following information: Names:Phone/Fax number:Nationality:Ref Number: Batch Number: Ticket Number: Once again congratulations from all our staffs on your consolation prize winning, we hope you will partake in our forth coming MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL Email-games. Regards, Wendy Witkamp(Mrs.). (Group Coordinator) NB: In accordance with the MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL E-games policy and regulations, this notification is dispatched directly to only the lucky consolation prize Winners. This notification also contains information that is proprietary,privileged or confidential or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure. If you are not the right recipient whose email address attached to the lucky numbers along with the winning informations you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this notice or any part of it.

It seems many people fall for this king of scam, otherwise the fraudsters would not have kept trying.

Someone from India was searching Google on australian lotto lottery inc head office. Google made him land on this email scam winning a fake lottery page on my site. He then sent me the following query:

From: vivek <...@yahoo.co.in> To: meDate: Sep 23, 2006 1:43 AMSubject: BE: for my fuducial agent Rev. johnson james.i am unable to contact to Mr. johnson james.i has alredy send you to mailform ...@rediffmail.com .as soon as possible please send me anacknowledgement that you has been recived my mail or not. thanks

Here is another variant of the lottery winning scam. This time they say it is in South Africa, and call it Euro Afro American lottery.

Euro Afro American Lottery promotionSouth AfricanFrom the desk of: Mrs Sandra Nzamawebsite:www.euro-afro.blogspot.comDear Sir\MadamCONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR WINNING:We happily announce to you the draw of South African 2010 World cup Bid lottery Award International programs held in Zurich, Switzerland. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: B9665 75604546 199 with ! Serial number 97560 drew the winning:60/84/27/17/36, which subsequently won you the lottery award in the 2nd category. Your name have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$2,000.000.00(Two million United States Dollars) in cash credited to file KPC/9030108308/03 .This is from a total cash prize of US $ 8,000,000.00 (Eight million United States dollars) shared among the first 4 lucky winners in this category world-wide. website:www.euro-afro.blogspot.comPlease note that your lucky winning number falls within our lottery booklet representative office in South Africa as indicate in the play coupon. In view of this, your US $2,000.000 ( Two Million United States Dollars ) would be released to through the assistance of our agent in South Africa immediately he commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contacted him.All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000,00 companies and individual emails address.The lottery programe took place to promote South Africa's 2010 world cup award. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims are processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.Please you are advised to file for your claim immediately through our agent MR JAMES ZUMA immediately you received this message because you stand a risk of loosing the prize if you fail to claim within a month from the day you received this notification.His e-mail address is : jameszuma22@hotmail.co.ukTel:+27-76-249-2792Fax:27-86-513-3875Yours sincerely,Mrs Sandra Nzama(Zonal cordinator)pls use this E-mail:jameszuma22@hotmail.co.ukwebsite:http://www.euro-afro.blogspot.com

Their web site is on blogspot.com, which means it is just a blog.