Unbelievable

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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:04 pm

Last night I received a 419 scam in the mail, addressed to the RL me! It was a clear check cashing scam. The envelope (which was addressed to me correctly) had no return addy. It contained a letter indicating that I had won a bazillion $ from some lottery. Along with the letter was a very real looking check for $4500. The letter stated that the 4.5K was a down payment on the rest of my winnings but that I owed the US Gov't ~3.8K in taxes and that I should send this via WU or MG to "my" tax attorney (which of course they have set me up with).
Absolutely a typical 419, the kind we all have have hit the autoflush in our email accounts for years. Except, this was a hard copy scam. This had to have cost the lads some cash in printing and postal costs. If I get the time, I will scan the docs and post, but this was all very legit looking and I am sure there will be vics who fall for this. Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:17 pm

Make sure that the word gets out there (scamwarners) so possible victims can be warned, can you scan the letter?
We must bug a few scammers that they go back to the old days, I like that idea Twisted Evil

although it will be harder to fight, but easier to stop if they want to, just burn the snail mail from there when it enters the country Laughing

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:44 pm

Only $3,800 in taxes on a lottery prize? The friend who got one of those said her prize was supposed to be $250,000. By my calculations, the taxes on that would be around $125,000 - US taxes on lottery an gambling winnings is darn near 50%. Whenever somebody wins the Mega-Millions in the state lottery, the news reporters always tell us their actual winnings after taxes is about half, and if they opt for immediate payout (rather than over 20 years), it's only about a quarter.

If more people knew that, they'd look at that letter and check a bit harder.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Posts: 41

Lottery winnings are no different than any other ordinary income, and get taxed at a maximum rate of 35%. $3600 is still way low for taxes for any sort of sizable lottery winnings, but just wanted to point out that the government doesn't get to take half your winnings if anyone legitimately wins a lottery.

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:08 pm

That modality is certainly not common but it's also not unknown, unfortunately. And yes, a very authentic-looking check in hand is more convincing to a potential victim than a random email. It's a very insidious and dangerous version of the old lottery scam, with fake check scam in the mix. Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:13 pm

Cash it, go on vacation and tell them you'll pay the taxes after you receive the big sum... Twisted Evil

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:17 pm

I remember a guy from college that worked as a bartender. He had a bumper sticker for a burger place spotted by a prize committee. He won a Chevy Corvette. Being a clever college student, he made arrangements to sell the car back to the dealership but had to take ownership and drive it around the block. He had to pay sales taxes and income taxes on MSRP, not what the car was going for and not what he got paid for his used car. He ended up with a 4 cylinder pickup truck free and clear.

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:21 pm

Click me

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:44 pm

Where did it come from? Canada I expect?

Master Baiter Joined: 19 Sep 2008 Posts: 114

I cant believe you pay tax on lottery winnings in the US. That sucks Mad

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:22 pm

@ Ghost, that looks like the same MO as the letter I got

@ JoJo, I will check but I don't know where it came from, I am in USA

@ Owd Git, What country are you from that you don't pay taxes on lottery winnings?

@ Mami, I am definitely baiting this POS. He's getting the full arsenal of fuzzy WUs and .dll files I can throw his way.

Will try and get some time to scan and post these, but RL is getting in the way.

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:23 pm

@Owd Git - lottery winnings are income, so we pay income tax on them. We also pay Medicare and Social Security tax on it - and since it is not matched by an employer, the Medicare and Social Security is double what it would be if the money were earned at a job.

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:38 pm

I just ran off with the proceeds of a counterfeit cheque for $89,100 (not really, but that's what I told the scammer) and he is not amused, even though I sent him a picture of the girl I was spending the money on.

The best thing would be to mail the Lad and tell him you are a non US resident for tax purposes and thank him for the money - or that you are having the proceeds collected from abroad and won't be eligible for US tax - or tell them that you are paying the money into the account of a registered charity for army vets and won't attract tax.

If enough people hammer the scammer with the same story he'll realise he is throwing his money (postage) away on a scam that doesn't work.

Master Baiter Joined: 19 Sep 2008 Posts: 114

@ Bill mcdill there is no tax to pay on the proceeds of any form of gambling in the UK, whether from lotteries, horse racing, poker (online or bricks and mortar) financial spread betting or any other source.

The argument goes something like this, if winning punters win and pay income tax then loses will be tax deductible. As the law stands at the moment at any rate.

Edit:As there are more losing punters than winner (depending on how overound any book is, or bookies margins) then there would be a net loss to the government.

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:20 pm

^^^ Same in New Zealand,no tax on lottery winnings, horse race betting etc, unless it can be shown that your income is derived solely from betting. Even then, it turns into a murky world of who pays for the times you lose.

Also, no capital gains tax, death duties, inheiritance tax etc.

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:36 pm

Same with Canada. No tax on lottery winnings. Unfortunately they tax people so highly on everything else. That's why Canadians buy so many lottery tickets. Its the only way out!! Razz

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:52 pm

Gomer, maybe we can mass bait this POS? Everyone comes up with some phony baloney reason why they can't pay him or starts sending him fuzzy WU's. Maybe we can at least slow him down? Anyone interested please PM me and I'll get you the email addy.