streeta  
I don't know much about these guys, but You need to consider how they got your email address in the first place. I don't know if you already have, but you shouldn't sent out your personal info onthe internet, a lot of these things are scams. Be careful.
Jun 5th 2007 14:25   

Cheryl Baumgartner   Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
I want to add to the last comment by streeta. Many of these type e-lottos are scams designed to get more specific personal info or financial info from you in order to steal one or all parts of your identity. Since you say this is a Yahoo/Microsoft lotto winner have you actually contacted Microsoft or Yahoo, not at the address provided by those claiming you have won but through a Microsoft licensed dealer. They should be able to give you the correct contact information. Hackers and ID thieves can make these websites look real. There is a long list of companies whose online logos have been hijacked for phishing purposes including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, AOL and Paypal just to name a few.

Also I would be suspicious of any contest, lotto, etc that I did not initiate the contact with. Often your name was collected somewhere along the line through a phishing scheme your friends fell victim to, often without noticing it.
Take a minute to check out my Privacy, security and Identity theft group there's information there that could make you more aware of whats going on.
Jun 5th 2007 17:55   

vanrif@yahoo.com  
very good
Jun 6th 2007 20:41   

Bj aka Bill Brown   Hosting and Backup Service provider
Hi Raymond,

Never ever give any information to these people it is a pure scam.

You will find that they will now ask you to make a payment so that they can process your "ALLEDGED" winnings.
If you make that payment kiss good by to your money because you will never see it again.

You have also confirmed for them that they have an active email address and they will now sell your email address to anyone stupid enough to buy it as well as all the spammers that are out there.

My best advice is change your email address right away and once you have all the people that should have it informed of the new address then get rid of the current one.

Alternativly brace yourself to be deluged with hundreds of spam emails.

Bj

Jun 7th 2007 00:11   

Andre Lavictoire   
SCAM STAY AWAY FROM THEM !!!!!
Sorry for the CAPS but I want to get my point across...
Jun 7th 2007 01:40   

Jennifer Underwood   Promoter
OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay away from these folks. Join my groups..we have information (lots more to come) about these type of things!

Jenn
Jun 7th 2007 01:59   

Kathy Clark   Internet Marketer, Consultant, Social Media Manage
Raymond,
So sorry you are caught up in this. We all want to win something.

It is so easy on the internet to get mislead by some ad, or some "guru".

Before you jump on anything, check it out first. Ask questions of your mentors and associates. It can save you a huge headache later.

Kathy

Jun 7th 2007 02:14   

Tony Cross  Internet Marketing Expert
Raymond,

We all want to win something but most of these sites are scams.

It is so easy on the internet to get mislead by some ad, or some "guru".

Before you jump on anything, check it out first. Ask questions of your mentors and associates. It can save you a huge headache later.

HappyTimes
Life On the Beach

Jun 7th 2007 03:51   

Joe Verneer   
hi all,
There was a report last month, the poor lady did all the right things to be sure it was for real ..calls, reseach, call the banks, before she sent any money .Because the letter from the lottery place was out side the USA she had to pay taxes and tranfer fees,so she did rip was rip off 8000.00 by time they were done with her.... it's a Big Scam to make the news beware my friends.
best wish
mrjoe
Jun 7th 2007 04:23