Threat Intelligence Directory
Social Engineering

Fake Lottery or Sweepstakes Winner Notice

Attack Trigger

Unexpected windfall excitement overrides skepticism and rational thinking

What Attackers Want

$500–$5,000 in escalating "processing fees"

How This Attack Works

Victims receive congratulatory emails claiming they have won a lottery or sweepstakes they never entered. To claim the prize, victims must pay "processing fees," "taxes," or "legal costs" upfront. No prize ever materializes.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • You cannot win a lottery you did not enter
  • Requires upfront payment of fees before releasing winnings
  • Asks for your bank account details to "wire the prize"
  • Sender requests secrecy to avoid "disqualification"

Known Malicious Domains

These domains have been associated with this attack. Never click links going to these addresses.

  • global-lottery-winners.comMALICIOUS
  • sweepstakes-prize-claim.netMALICIOUS
  • international-jackpot-notify.comMALICIOUS

Glance automatically blocks emails from domains on this list. Domain list is not exhaustive — attackers register new domains continuously.

How Glance Stops This

  • Domain similarity analysis catches lookalike sender addresses at millisecond speed
  • SPF / DKIM / DMARC validation flags authentication failures before you ever see the email
  • VirusTotal + Google Safe Browsing checks every link in real time
  • Urgency language detection scores the email higher for manual review
  • Known malicious domain blocklist updated continuously from live scan data

Don't wait to get hit.

Glance scans every incoming email against 12 detection layers — including the exact tactics described above — before it reaches your inbox.

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