STS - SECURITY TRANSFER SYSTEMS STS I am a Confirmed Winner of $998,407.77 after I send $24.87 Processing fee payable to STS. Las Vegas, Nevada

It's a SCAM. Pure and simple.

If the OP falls for it and begins the "process" of collecting these totally bogus "winnings", if they're lucky they'll just lose the $24.87 and never hear from the so called "company" again.

Otherwise, you can be sure that they'll get caught up in a treadmill of sending more money when the processing hits a "snag", then there'll be all manner of assurances made, but then another unexplained snag that will require another amount of money requested to "clear things up"... One more step, they'll be told, and on and on it'll go,  until  the OP wises up and refuses to send any more money, then they'll never hear from these scammers again.

To the OP: No legitimate lottery or sweepstakes will ever require you to pay up front for "processing fees" or "taxes". It's illegal for them to do so. That's your first tip off!

Think about it; they use bulk mail and free mailing lists then send out 100,000 letters. If one percent of the people respond that's $24,000+ in their P.O. box or empty office front. They can shut that one down get another. Get the picture?

Do a Google search! The first two hits are the RipOff Report and Yahoo Answers, indicating SCAM! The next entry for the "company" is in reference to a company that provides support for trading U.S. Government and Agency securities! We all know playing the securities market is a kind of "lottery" of it's own, but come on!

"Tragic", I can't see how you, in good conscience, could even remotely consider encouraging this person to "check out" the legitimacy of this obvious scam at all! This is like saying to someone; "Hey, I hear the cocaine is likely bad for you, but why don't you just go ahead and try a few rails just to see if it is or not."!

Seriously... your "advice" in this matter doesn't even begin to pass the "WTF test".

Well just make some phone calls and find out if it is a scam or legit. DO NOT GIVE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION --especially bank account info or ss # ect. Sounds like one of those Nigerian scams. If they are going to give you that much money ask for a certified check from a local bank and notify law enforcement if they back out of the deal. GOOD LUCK!