Website has fun at scammer’s expense

Oct. 20, 2010 - PRLog -- We’ve all received a mountain of emails for supposed inheritances to which we’re entitled, the lottery prize we won, the check that’s waiting or a business proposition that could net us millions of dollars. We know they’re all scams, and frauds of this type can have serious implications, but one enterprising entrepreneur and webmaster, J.D. Gauchat, of Toronto, Canada, decided to have some fun with the concept.

After receiving four and five of these fraudulent emails each day, Gauchat’s sense of humor took over and he began to wonder exactly how much money he’d have if all of the scams were real. With his website, he’s managed to turn his intense dislike of scammers into something fun.

“I created the website, www.howmuchiwon.com, in just one day and solved a problem that’s plagued people for years,” said Gauchat. “Now I’m counting the money I’d have if those emails were real.”

The website is not designed to fight the crimes perpetrated by scammers. The site was created just to have fun. Gauchat cautions that if you receive any of the scam emails or believe you may have been the victim of a scam, you should search for other websites online that are really dedicated to fighting scammers.

Gauchat included a personal money counter on his site to record the amount of money he’s won according to scam emails. Each time he receives a new email with one of the fraudulent offers, he adds the amount to his growing-make believe fortune.

To help others avoid being a victim of any of the swindles that are circulating, he provides examples of the types of scam emails he’s received. The companies and individuals named in the examples are not involved in the scams. They’re examples of how scammers use the logos and names of legitimate businesses and people for their own nefarious purposes.

Gauchat has created his own line of products, emblazoned with various references to scams and the site’s web address. The items are actually part of the same joke, and you can find a lot of them. There are T-shirts for men, women, children, babies and dogs. Hoodies, tanks and long-sleeved shirts are also available for women, while men can opt for a baseball jersey, long-sleeved shirt or hoodie. Items for children and infants include a teddy bear, kid’s hoodie, and infant bodysuits and bibs. There are also tote bags, coffee mugs, caps, aprons, messenger bags, water bottles, bumper stickers, wall clocks and keepsake boxes.

Scammers cost the unwary millions of dollars each year and it’s vital that people recognize scam emails for what they are. Gauchat’s site provides valuable information for people to help identify scam emails, while also having fun at the scammer’s expense.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.howmuchiwon.com. You can also follow the site on Facebook and Twitter @howmuchiwon.

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I'm a webmaster with a different projects online. How Much I Won is one of those projects. You can check my profile in www.jdgauchat.com