Thanks for the heads up, hillbillyman, and please excuse my intellectually stagnant friends.
j/k guys.
Anyway, I can't believe how many people are suckered into scams like this every day! Remember, folks, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you don't remember entering a contest, chances are you didn't and it is a fraudulent scam. If you are encouraged to make a purchase to increase your chances of winning, it's most likely a fraudulent scam.
One that was reported on the news last night locally involved a woman who had met a man on a website dating service from Africa (first big red flag). After a few weeks, he asked her if she would ship some things to him that he had purchased online, since the company he purchased them from wouldn't ship overseas (second big red flag). She agreed, and before she knew it, truck after truck was showing up with loads of digital cameras, iPods, clothing, shoes, and other goods totalling nearly $30,000! Now, if that ain't a huge red flag up your flagpole, I don't know what is. At that point the woman became suspicious (you think?) and called the police. Turns out the merchandise was purchased with stolen credit card numbers, and was being shipped to Nigeria to be sold on the black market. Fortunately for her, she won't be charged with any crime, just the embarrassment of being a total maroon.