WOOHOO!!! I'M RICH. VERY RICH. RICH BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS!!!!

£1 955 815.85 worth of rich.

I think the first thing I'm going to do is by a Ferrari and then maybe a huge big house in Beaconsfield or Wokingham with a 3 bedroom granny flat for mum and Sami to live in. Then I'll take Claire on a fabulous holiday to the Seyschelles - we'll fly first class of course. Actually, cancel the Seyschelles, that's so last year - we'll do a round the world trip and stay as the top hotels of EVERY country in the world.

I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself.

Ok, I would be if the two spam emails I've just got are anything to go by.

Email #1:

From: "LOTTERY STAKES INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY STAKES INTERNATIONAL" <lottery_intl05@hotmail.com>
To: lottery_intl05@hotmail.com
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! (Claim your winning).
Date: Wed, 07 Sep 2005 15:37:04 +0200

LOTTERY STAKES INTERNATIONAL,
148 RIVONIA ROAD,
PLOT: 328 REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.
EMAIL: lottery_intl05@hotmail.com
REF NUMBER: OSL/653/! 029/03
BATCH NUMBER: AT-040-SB06-03

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

DEAR WINNER

We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our recent lottery draw Held on 6TH SEPTEMBER, 2005. Your email address attached to ticket number 27522465896-532 with serial number 652-662 drew lucky number 7-14-18-23-31-45, which consequently won 2nd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of R15, 000,000.00 (FIFTEEN MILLION SOUTH AFRICAN RAND).

PLEASE NOTE:

ALL participants in this lottery program have been selected randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 60,000 companies and 100,000,000 Individual email addresses from all search engines and websites. This promotional program takes place every year, and is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities and several other corporate organizations. This is to encourage the use of the Internet and computers worldwide. For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money
remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.

We look forward to your active participation in this year RAND50 Million slot. You are requested to contact our clearance officer below to assist you with your winning and subsequent payments. All winnings must be claim not later than one month after the date of this notice.

Also note, in order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all Correspondences.

Furthermore, should there be any change of addresses do inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

NOTE; YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 25 YEARS OF AGE.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Peter Henkel
(Promotions/Claims Manager)

TEL: 27 732 666 990
FAX: 27 837 697 560
Email: phenkel@webmail.co.za

And Email #2:

From: "uk national lottery comapny" <uknationallotterycompany_50@hotmail.com>
To: uknationallotterycompany_50@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: PRIZE AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION.
Date: Wed, 07 Sep 2005 12:41:59 +0100

From: Mrs. Teresa Allan.
Euro-Afro-American-Sweepstake Lottery
Headquarters: 1a, Bexon Court Carlton
Nottingham shire Nottingham NG4 1SQ Essex
United Kingdom
E-mail: uknationallotterycompany_50@hotmail.com

Attention:Sir/Madam,

RE: PRIZE AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION.

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of the winners of the UK International Lottery Program, held on the 29th of August 2005.

You or your company, attached to ticket number 2F5-7HK-4329,serial number 53J-721B drew the lucky numbers 2-14-16-21-32-36-48, and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd international category.

You have therefore been approved for a Lump-Sum Payout of US$1,200,000.00 (One Million, two hundred thousand USD), in Cash credited to file with REF NO: SNI/8033113427/04 and BATCH NO: 44/4107F82/IZ. This is from total prize money of US$24,000,000.00 shared among 20 winners in this category.

All participants were selected through a computer balloting system drawn from over 185,000 companies and individuals from Australia, New Zealand,Africa, Europe, North America,South America and Asia as part our International promotions program for the year, conducted bi-annually.

Congratulations!

Your fund is now deposited with First Rand Bank Of South Africa and insured in your name awaiting collection. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names,we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been fully processed and your total prize money remitted to your bank account of your choice.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program. We hope with a part of your prize money, you will participate in our end of year high stakes of US$58 Million International lottery slot in December 2005.

For the immediate processing and collection of your prize money,Please contact directly our Claim's Agent in the South Africa: Barrister. Dr. Paul Khumalo.Esq
Telephone: +27- 73-867-0952
Email: paul_khumalo_lawyer@yahoo.com

All prize money must be claimed not later than 30th September, 2005. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. All correspondences to Paul Khumalo, should have this email sent along with it and also, your full Contact Address, Country of residence and your E-mail address.

Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our programme.

Faithfully,

Mrs. Teresa Allan

I absolutely hate spam, but I couldn't resist. I've read articles warning people against these spam emails, but I hadn't received one. Now I've received two in the same day. How lucky am I?

Of course there's the usual inaccuracies, like purporting to be from a legitimate company, yet the emails are sent from a Hotmail address. The 2nd email is particularily good with it's "facts" - it's "from" the UK National Lottery Company, but the prize fund is in dollars and I've got to collect is from an agent in South Africa - and of course there are the usual "Don't tell anyone" clauses in both. Well, sorry you wishful thinking, scaly buggers - I've just popped your emails onto the net for the world to read.

Now, I wonder if I should reply to these and see how long I can string this out for before they realise I'm onto them.