Weekly Hoax Post: Facebook Lottery Win Message

by Christina Yeager


Every week there’s another hoax post that fuels outrage on the Web. We’re going to share them with you along with some lessons learned. It’s YOUR duty to spread the word, so that outraged folks can focus on the truly outrageous, like Madonna’s armpit hair. 

This week, we wanna tell you about a scam popping up in your inbox on Facebook and/or your personal email about winning a lottery. This is a scam that will ask for personal and financial information - and you just might fall for it!

We all know by now that Facebook can be a seed institution for scamming and hoaxing. Social media is a place to gather with friends, family and long lost acquaintances as well as a breeding ground for the thieving and dishonest. Email notifications about lottery winnings are not uncommon and have been around for a while, but it's best to know what you're looking for.

What You See

The subject line of this email varies. It will not harm you to open the email. Upon opening it, you will see a formal type letter informing you of your winnings. The amount in the scam can be hundreds of thousands. Sounds great, right? 

In the email you are ask to disclose information. First red flag: Facebook would NEVER email or message you for personal info! 

---

---

Why You Fall For It

Money. Either you need it or want it. Curiosity to know if the offer is real?

Have you ever received a phone call with the party on the other end saying you’ve won a trip but you must first buy a magazine or spend three hours listening to a condo pitch? Yeah, this nothing like that. You might actually get the trip from the phone call (at a huge cost to you, of course), but you won’t be winning any money here. 

---

What Will Happen

The destruction of your bank or credit card account – not to mention possible theft of your identity. No one wants to risk that, right?

DO NOT give any personal or financial information in an email like this.

You’re not gonna receive any cash winnings. Someone will though! Whoever steals all the cash out of your bank account has hit the lottery!

---

Have you happened across one of these email lottery or other scam messages? Let us know!

---

---