El Bordo Scam

Beware the scam.This one is supposed to resemble the Spanish lottery El Gordo, so it's called El Bordo. Apparently, without even entering for the lottery, I am the happy winner of 615,810 euros, paid in 42 installments.

All I have to do to get my grubby paws on all this lovely money is to send all my bank details, my name and address and that of my heir. It is, of course a 419 type of scam.

I sent an email to the local branch of the direction générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des fraudes (DGCCRF) to inform them of this scam. Will they be able to do something about it? I'm not sure, but they are now aware of it, if they weren't before.

It's amazing what you can run up on a word processor these days, although I think you'll agree that this letter is a pretty rough and ready attempt at an official declaration. I think my favourite bit is the photo of a woman receiving a cheque from what looks like the UK Lottery (note the blue fingers-crossed hand logo).

Do advise any in your entourage who might be susceptible to answering such a letter (usually the less scam-savvy granny/aged auntie group) to chuck any communication they get of this type. Alternatively, they can send it to you, and you can inform the site joewein.de. He also suggests reporting it to the police, taking the letter to see if they can get fingerprints off it.

I'll be emailing my letter to him.