Irritating American Express Lottery Letter
by Mr Credit CardEvery couple of months, I get an ‘urgent’ mail from American Express ‘Publishing’ informing me that the American Express Cardmember $1,000,000 prize money in the Super Million Dollar XIV Sweepstake remains unrewarded! There is a nice reply form for me to fill out.
When I first got the original sweepstake mail, I was rather excited. But after getting tons to mails saying the reward has not been awarded, you realize that there is no sweepstake and all they are after is to try to get you to sign up for some magazines. But this is what they letter says (verbatim) :
We have registered in the name of Mr Credit Card (ok, my real name),the $1,000,000.00 Prize Entry of Number : 1234567890…….If this number matches the pre-selected winning Prize Entry Number, and you return it before May 28 2007 deadline (the latest mail I got!), you will win $1,000,000.00 (yeah, what’s the probability of that happening)………you will be able to choose a LUMP SUMP Payment of $501,000.000 CASH or annuity paymentof $33,333,34 for 30 years.
But that is not all, it turns out there are over 1,000 other prizes as well! Like a BMW 325i Sedan, a Bose Lifestyle Home Theatre System, Tivo Plus Cable Service for 1 Year, a DeLonghi Coffee Bar & Expresso Maker and a Helbros Dress Watch and a few other stuff.
I am absolutely getting sick of these deceptive mails. I have never known anyone who has won any of this. I think the real kicker is to actually get you to sign up for the Travel and Leisure Family club which apparantly gives you great benefits and savings when you travel! You get two months free membership and if you decide to continue, you will get 12 months of membership at the ’special rate of only $69.95″! At least, they are honest enough to say that purchasing does not improve your chance of the lottery.
Has any other American Express cardholders got this mail (I would think so). What do you think about it? Do you send in the reply form hoping for that million dollar windfall?
April 27th, 2007 at 4:22 am
Yes, I just received this mailing (again) and found your blog because I looked on Google to find out if it is a scam. I’m curious to know what you find out about it!
April 27th, 2007 at 4:28 am
Actually, I just read the letter, and it says that the winner won’t be notified until AUGUST 2008!! Wow, I guess we are going to keep getting these until they have picked a winner 16 months from now, if there is one. No wonder the prize “remains unclaimed” - it hasn’t been given out yet!
June 4th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Yep, I got it too. I thought it had to be a scam. I can’t believe a reputable company like Amex would resort to these tactics.
June 20th, 2007 at 6:06 am
I got that mail. I’ll send back the reply form and hoping for that million dollar. Althought I thought that is scam, but I was attract by $1 million, no proof prove that’s a real scam. If they sign up any program for me, I’ll cancel it and all my AMEX credit card.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
The most annoying part of this scam is that they keep sending the same letter asking me to resubmit yet another form with a new serial number.
They also sent me letters promising a free additional flight ticket. I registered for this false gift 3 times, yet the ticket has never materialized. When I rang to complain, the Amex representative was too embarrassed to discuss it and the only thing he could do was a promise that they will never send me this trash again.
December 4th, 2007 at 5:40 am
Got it too, very annoying. But I did recieve the “free” companion ticket, but that’s just a scam on scam because I have to order a flight ticket thru a specific site and there are fixed prices for my ticket depending on destination (devided into zones).
As an example: A Ticket from LAX to LAS costs $350 for me and then a get a “free” companion ticket. If I order thru any other site the ticket is only $120 - $150 (so 240 - 300 for me and my companion).
July 7th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I just got the info today. There is a checkbox on the back that allows you a chance to not subscribe and recive the mags. Looks like publisher clearing house stuff. They have no way to sign up online.??????????????
September 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I got a call today saying that I got 1 million US$. Is it true or false? I would be greatful if I get answer. Thank you.