Increase in Lottery Scams

The last few days seem to be showing a pronounced increase in lottery scams.
Italian National Lottery
BMW Lottery Scam
Irish Lottery Scam and others have been flowing in to my email box.
More information on these scams can be found at Scam-Email.com
All of these have the same format and questions so I am fairly certain it is a concerted effort to find people who are very desperate in a failing economy. Some would be rich falling on hard times who have lost a LOT but not all of their finances.
IF this is a government sponsored attempt or terrorist attempt it is a bit insidious in its nature.
It is hard for me to understand this economic situation. With over 94% of all mortgages fluid and being paid, I am not sure how some of these banks are failing. However increases in scams indicate that someone is targeting this country and its people for more fraud. This money is going somewhere?
Al Queda? China?
Am I paranoid?
Who knows, but let us be careful in the coming months and not be tempted due to loss and greed.
Jim Dicken