I received a call today from a very legitimate sounding “XXX Futures” … I took the call wondering if they were associated with a prestigious Bank of the same name – who, through a very circuitous route actually owned a minority position in one of my businesses.
They weren’t … it turns out that they are just a well and conveniently named independent company selling ‘investments’ in Futures, options and the like.
I have no direct experience with the company, but trading Futures and Options just aren’t my style, so I respectfully declined and asked to be removed from their list … [click] was the response. Professional!
Now, I’m sorry that I didn’t invest 😉
But, my day was soon made brighter when I opened my in-box and found that I had ‘won’ a Spanish Lottery!
EURO MILLIONNATIONAL LOTTERY ONLINE PROMO
Batch Number: 074/05/ZYxxx
Ticket Number: 5877600545 xxxWe are pleased to inform you today 2008 of the result of the winners of the EURO MILLIONNATIONAL LOTTERY ONLINE PROMO PROGRAMME, held 2008.
($1,500,000.00) (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars)
Names, Contact Telephone Numbers (Home, Office and Mobile Number and
also Fax Number)and also with your winning informations via email.
CONTACT PERSON:MR ANDREW WOOLLEY
Bank Name:LA CAIXA BANK MADRIDEmail: mlacaixxxxx88@aol.com
Tel:+34-693-518-xxx
Fax:+34-91-181-xxxx
Provide him with the information below:
1.Full Name: 2.Full Address:
3.Occupation: 4.Nationality:
Yours Truly,
Anna Maria(Mrs)
The days are not so long-gone since the mere sight of $1.5 Mill in writing gave me a blip of adrenalin; even so, it didn’t take me more than a micro-second to assess that it belongs in the Scam basket.
Not sure why I blanked out the last digits; which of my readers would actually call them? Still people get ‘stung’ by these and the so-called Nigerian Scams all the time.
I have a question: what would happen if you called, it was legitimate, and you actually won?!
Here’s what I think: if you don’t work hard to grow your wealth (through whatever legitimate means can get you there) and learn the rules of money on the way up … the statistics would say that you have an 80% chance of blowing it all – and, then some – within the next 5 years …
… and, believe me, it’s a lot more devastating to slip back down than it is to suffer some setbacks on the way up, in the first place.
Get Rich(er) Quick(er) … it’s much better than getting there too quickly … or, not at all 🙂
