Why this looks valid

• The email uses valid video and news links to try and convince the recipient that they are a valid lottery winner

Why this is fraud

• Pay attention to sentence construction, spelling, and grammar - language mistakes are good indicators of malicious emails
• If the recipient responds to the message, the communication will quickly transfer to text or phone, and the scammer will try to convince the person to send initial funds before receiving the "prize"

Additional notes

• This is a very common scam that has been circulating since the very beginning of email usage
• This scam is referred to as an Advance Fee Scheme - more information can be found at https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/advance-fee-schemes
• Remember to always send suspicious email messages to phishing@marist.edu. Timely reporting helps keep the entire Marist College community safe from cyber criminals!