Consumer Board to Hold E-Mail Spam Contest

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — It’s called the “Spam and Bologna” contest.

In an effort to expose e-mail scams, the state Consumer Protection Board is holding an international competition to find the most outrageous examples of these fraudulent notes on the Internet.

“Advance-fee e-mails try to lure victims with fantastic tales of lost fortunes. But this spam is bologna,” said Teresa Santiago, chairwoman and executive director of the board.

Santiago hopes the contest – where the winner receives nothing and the second prize is bologna – will prevent more Internet users from falling for e-mail scams promising lost fortunes or hidden bank accounts to be shared with persons willing to put money up in advance.

“Sadly many people, especially the elderly, have lost thousands of dollars to this scheme, which is one of the largest and oldest on the Internet,” Santiago said. Variations of the scam date back more than 100 years.

The board said advance-fee e-mails, also known as “Nigerian” and “419″ e-mails, are received weekly by millions. The sender often poses as the relative of a dead or jailed leader, a bank official or another fictitious person looking for help.

To enter the “Spam and Bologna” contest, interested parties should forward the scam e-mails to the Consumer Protection Board at contest@consumer.state.ny.us. The contest ends May 2.

—–

On the Net:

New York Consumer Protection Board

More science, space, and technology from RedNova

Copyright © 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.