Is this a scam? I don't get spam emails, though..?

Question

this is the email:

Toyota Car Lottery International Promotions China,
Customer Service Department
Toyota Motor Corporations, China.
28 Tanfield Road Tiaxiu lio Beijing China PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION
DEAR Sir / Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement made today, You are among the
winners of the TOYOTA CAR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM Participants were selected
through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals
and companies from all part of the world as part of our electronic business
Promotions Program.
As a result of your visiting various websites we are running the E-business
promotions for. You/Your Company email address, attached to ticket number
xxx-xxx-xxxx, with serial number xxx-xx drew the lucky numbers xx,xx,xx,xx,xx,xx
and Bonus number 10 , Your INSURANCE Number: xxxx/ xxxx /xxxx and consequently you
won in the Second Category of the TOYOTA FORTUNE LOTTO DRAW.You have therefore been
approved for the payment of the sum of US$1,000, 000, 00 in cash, including a Toyota
camry 2008 model which is the winning present /amount for the Second category
winners. This is from the total prize money of US$40,650,000.00 shared among the
international winners in the Second category.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Please be informed that your won fund of the sum of US$1,000,000.00 is now with the
payee center. Contact our agent and give them your full names so that they will
re-insure your winning fund under your full names. Together with the port where your
winning car should be shipped to.
To begin your claim, please call our claim agent or send email immediately to:-
Mr. Austine Scoth
Foreign Services Manager,
Toyota Motor Corporations China,
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: +xxxxxxxxxxxxx
1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Occupation:
4. Age:
5. Sex:
6. Nationality
7. Country of Residence:
8. Telephone/Fax Number:
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to
quote your reference and batch numbers and other information provided above and
below in every one of your correspondences to your claiming agent.
Congratulations'' once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our
promotions program..
Sincerely,
Mr. Austine Scoth
Online coordinator
www.Toyota.com.cn


I just don't know how they would have gotten my email address..

Answer 1

Just because you don't know how doesn't mean they don't also.



It's a scam.

Answer 2

While I am quite comfortable chiming in with the rest and saying it is a scam, here is more useful information:



This type of email is designed to get your personal information as the beginning of identity theft.



Do your own research. View the full headers of the email. The method varies from email client to email client but they all allow you to do so. Copy the full view into Notepad.



Starting from the top, look for the lines that begin "Received from". Work your way down to the last one - just before the TO and FROM lines.



The 'from' part contains the first email server that the message hits. Does it look like a toyota corporate site, or does it end in .ru, .pl or someplace totally unrelated to toyota.



OK - so you now are pretty sure that it is, indeed, a scam. What should you do next?



You should report it. You could report it to toyota - their site has contact information. You should also report it to the Feds. A good starting place is the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov) run by the FBI.



Department of Justice also collects such information.



If the email originated in the US - forward the information to the Attorney General for that state.



Make life miserable.



Good luck.

Answer 3

Why waste your time mot of those scams are on autopilot and they would read your stuff anyway. Get out of the house and have some fun with a bunch of wild and crazy guys.

Answer 4

This smells like a scam to just get your info so they can share it with third party companies (telemarketers), I say just ignore it. Often times they can get your email from sites like facebook or some other website that allows others to see your information you've given them.

Answer 5

Yep - its a scam based out of Nigeria - see the cited sites

Answer 6

Of course it's a scam. Why would some stranger offer you a brand new car?

Answer 7

I didnt have to read past the first few words to know its a scam.

Answer 8

YES, that is a scam.



If you want to read about scam emails visit this site:



http://www.hoax-slayer.com/

Answer 9

Yes, Don't do it.