Avoid being scammed by "Attn Lucky Winner" fake prize emails

What is the "Attn Lucky Winner" email?

"Attn Lucky Winner" is an email scam targeting Australian users. These messages claim that recipients have been selected as winners of the "Mega Millions" raffle sponsored by "OZ Australia". Supposedly, users have won an incredible sum of money (over ten million dollars).

The content of the message is extremely dubious, mentioning the names of legitimate, generic, and nonexistent lotteries, companies and entities. This type of scam is typically used to trick recipients into revealing their personal and banking information, making monetary transactions, calling expensive telephone numbers, and similar.

The email entitled "Attn lucky winner" begins with listed contact details of supposed Australian claims adjusters/representatives. The message announces that the recipient is the third place winner of the "Mega Millions" lottery. This is the name of a legitimate lottery based in the United States, which can be played by non-US citizens as well.

The fake prize is stated to be over ten million dollars ($10,500,000.00). The email makes reassurances that all of the necessary steps have been taken to ensure that users receive their winnings. Therefore, they are urged to immediately contact their claims adjuster or representative (the contacts are listed at the top of the message).

Recipients are also informed that 10% of the profit belongs to "Oz Group Limited" - the promotional/legal company associated with their claim. This company name is quite generic and does not appear to be in reference to any legitimate entity. To legally secure the prize, users must obtain three certificates from their local authorities.

Following this, they are allegedly able to claim their winnings from the advertising agency ("Tatts Group Limited"). This is the name of a legitimate Australian lottery, wagering and gaming solution company. Any unclaimed winnings are used to increase the future prize pool and to fund educational and treatment programs.

There is a "security code" listed, which according to the email, together with pricing information, must be kept strictly confidential as stated by various laws. Therefore, users must keep their winning entirely confidential, even from family members, relatives and friends.

This is supposedly to prevent fraud, manipulation and similar, however, from the scammers point of view, limiting the number of people involved increases chances of the criminals' success, as other parties might notice that the email is fraudulent.

Once all of the verification processes are complete, users are informed that the sum will be transferred to their bank account, or an automated platinum card will be issued, as approved by "GELDAUTOMAT". The latter is likely to be an arbitrary/random name (literally, "ATM machine" in German), as it does not seem to belong to any relevant company/entity.

All of the claims made by the "Attn Lucky Winner" email are false. Trusting this message can lead to serious problems. Scammers tend to use these schemes to trick people into calling high-toll numbers and attempt to keep them talking for as long as possible, however, more commonly, fake prize scams are used to extort personal information from the recipients.

For example, names, addresses, telephone numbers, bank account and/or credit card details, etc. Financial information can be misused by the criminals to make fraudulent transactions or online purchases.

In some cases, scammers might ask users to pay bogus fees to receive a prize. In summary, trusting "Attn Lucky Winner" (or similar scams) can lead to serious privacy issues and financial loss.

Deceptive/Scam emails are sent by the thousand during large scale operations termed "spam campaigns". "AOL Winner", "TOYOTA LOTTERY ORGANIZATION", and "Google winner" are just some examples of many other emails employing the fake prize scam model.

These emails have various guises and forms. These messages are usually presented as "official", "important", "urgent" and so on. They can even abuse the current social climate (e.g. the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic). Deceptive emails are also used to proliferate Trojans, ransomware and other malware.

Regardless of what this mail claims or requests, its purpose is the same: to generate revenue for the scammers/cyber criminals behind it.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Malware infections are caused through spam campaigns via dangerous files sent in emails. These files can be attached to the messages or linked inside them (i.e., through download links). Malicious files can be in various formats (e.g. archives, executables, Microsoft Office and PDF documents, JavaScript, etc.).

When they are executed, run or otherwise opened, the infection process is triggered (i.e., download/installation of malware). For example, Microsoft Office documents cause infections by executing malicious macro commands.

In MS Office versions released prior to 2010, this process begins automatically when the dangerous document is opened, however, newer versions first ask users to enable macro commands (i.e., to enable editing/content). Therefore, the infection processes is only triggered after macros are manually enabled.

How to avoid installation of malware

You are advised against opening dubious or irrelevant emails, especially those with any attachments or links present in them, as doing so can lead to high-risk system infection. Use only Microsoft Office versions released after 2010, since they have "Protected View" mode, which prevents macro commands from being executed when the document is opened.

You are advised to download from official and verified sources only. Untrusted channels such as unofficial and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders can offer deceptive and malicious content for download. It is also important to activate and update programs with tools/functions provided by genuine developers.

Illegal activation ("cracking") tools and third party updaters must not be used, as they are often employed to distribute malware. To ensure device and user safety, it is paramount to have reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware installed and kept updated. Furthermore, this software must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats.

If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Attn Lucky Winner Email Scam" email message:

Subject: Attn lucky winner

 

Melbourne, Australia
382-channel drive
Tel- + 61384004707
Fax + 61370039254

 

Attn lucky winner

 

The Mega Million team is pleased to officially announce you as the third winner of the ten million ($ 10,500,000.00) sponsored raffle OZ Australia. Fourth place total is $ 5 million ($ 500 million). Congratulations! Global Mega Millions takes all necessary steps to ensure that you receive your prize. Please contact your claims adjuster or representative immediately to avoid delays as you can contact them by email or by phone and fax. Also note that 10% of your profit belongs to Oz Group Limited as it is the promotional and legal company associated with your claim. This 10% will only be paid out after you have received your prize (money).

 

Three (3) certificates must be issued to you by the local authorities concerned in order to legally secure your claim through the advertising agency (Tatts Group Limited). Unused winner prizes will be used for educational programs, treatment programs, and to increase future prize pools.

 

Tel- + 613-383757100
(Fax- +61381035050)

 

Your security code is: H649PC32 In accordance with federal, state, and federal laws, your security code and pricing information must be kept strictly confidential. This means that you are not allowed to talk about your winnings with third parties such as (family members, friends and relatives). This is to prevent illegal manipulation and to reduce the risk of fraud and fraud. Due to improper practices, we ask that you strictly disclose your reward information until your claim has been processed and money has been transferred to your possession, as this is part of our security protocol to prevent duplicate claims or unjustified misuse of this program by unscrupulous people.

 

s soon as we have verified your identity and your security code number, we will immediately transfer your total amount to your specified bank account by bank transfer, or an automated platinum card will be issued with a payment analysis in accordance with the global finance law, which the lottery approval by (GELDAUTOMAT ).

Your email initial was used for the raffle and you won a lucky winner.

Congratulations again

 

MEGA MILLIONS

 

Mr James Schofield
jamesschofield989@gmail.com 

 Another example of a spam email claiming that the recipient has won a lottery:

Text presented within:

Subject: YOU ARE A WINNER!!!

 

Attention esteemed winner,

This is to officially inform you that your Email address has won you the sum of $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars).

Your address was randomly selected from a database of 90,000 international emails, and it has emerged as one of the 50 lucky winners.

To claim your prize, kindly contact our claims: info@lottery-stake.com .  Mr. Peter Chan will assist you with the immediate release of your funds.

Peter Chan
Sincerely,
Management Board.

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Types of malicious emails:

If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file from a suspicious email, run a full system scan with Combo Cleaner. If you only received the email and didn't engage with it, you don't need to scan anything - just identify the scam and delete it. The full procedure below covers both situations and what to do if you already clicked, replied, or sent money.

Credential theft Phishing emails

Fake login pages disguised as PayPal, Microsoft, Apple, banks, or social networks. The email pushes a link to a near-perfect copy of the real login screen. The moment you type your username and password, the attacker has them.

Common subject lines

• "Action required: confirm your account"
• "Your password expires today"
• "Unusual sign-in attempt detected"
• "Verify your billing information"

Malware delivery Emails with malicious attachments

Trojans hidden inside fake invoices, faxes, shipping confirmations, or Office documents. Opening the attachment runs the payload and infects the system - often with an info-stealer or remote-access trojan.

Common subject lines

• "Invoice INV-2026-XXXX attached"
• "Fax received - 3 pages"
• "Your shipping document is ready"
• "Voicemail from +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX"

Extortion Sextortion emails

Fake claims of webcam recordings demanding cryptocurrency. Almost always a bluff: the attacker pulls a real password from an old data breach to make the threat look credible, then claims to have video of you. They have no recording and no access.

Common subject lines

• "I know your password is XXXX"
• "Your account has been hacked"
• "I have recorded you - 48 hours to pay"
• "You have been compromised"

Callback fraud Refund & callback scams

"Your subscription was renewed for $499 - call to cancel." Norton, McAfee, Geek Squad, PayPal, and Wells Fargo variants are all common. There's no real subscription. The phone number in the email connects directly to the scammer, who walks you through "refunding" yourself - which is actually them stealing money from your bank.

Common subject lines

• "Norton subscription auto-renewed - $499.99"
• "McAfee Total Protection invoice"
• "Geek Squad order confirmation"
• "Your PayPal payment is being processed"

Credential theft Account suspension & verification scams

"Your account will be deleted in 24 hours - verify now." The artificial deadline is the whole point: it pressures you to click before checking details. The "verify" link goes to a phishing page styled to look like the real provider.

Common subject lines

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Suspicious activity detected - verify now"
• "Final warning: account closure"
• "Action required to keep your account active"

Mixed payload Delivery & package scams

Fake DHL, USPS, UPS, or FedEx tracking, customs fees, or "package undeliverable" notices. Targets anyone expecting a parcel - the timing alone catches many people. The link hides either phishing (asking for card details to "release" the package) or a malware download.

Common subject lines

• "Your DHL package is held at customs"
• "USPS - delivery attempt failed"
• "FedEx tracking update - action required"
• "Pay $2.99 redelivery fee to release your parcel"

Remote access Tech support scams

Fake Microsoft, Apple, or "Windows Defender" security alerts pushing a phone number. Real Microsoft and Apple never email a phone number to call. The number connects you to a scammer who asks for remote access to "fix" the imaginary problem and then demands payment.

Common subject lines

• "Microsoft Defender expired - renew now"
• "Apple ID security alert"
• "Critical: virus detected on your PC"
• "Windows license expired - call now"

Wire fraud Advance-fee scams

Inheritance, lottery wins, romance, or business deals that ask for a small fee to release a much larger sum. The classic "Nigerian prince" 419 family of frauds. Once you pay the first fee, more fees appear (taxes, lawyer, transfer charges) until you stop paying. The promised money never exists.

Common subject lines

• "Inheritance from a relative you didn't know about"
• "You won the international lottery"
• "URGENT - business proposal worth $XX million"
• "Compensation fund release for fraud victims"

Wire fraud Business email compromise (BEC)

CEO impersonation asking employees to wire money or buy gift cards, or fake supplier invoices with newly "updated" bank details for payment redirection. The email often spoofs a real internal executive's display name and uses an external lookalike domain.

Common subject lines

• "Quick task - need you to buy gift cards"
• "Updated banking details for invoice payment"
• "Wire transfer request - urgent"
• "Are you available?" (CEO impersonation opener)

How to spot a malicious email?

Phase 1~ 2 min

Spot - identify the red flags

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1

Check the sender's actual address, not the display name

30 sec

The display name (the human-readable part) is trivial to fake. Always check the full address that comes after it. Common red flags:

• Domain mismatch - service@paypa1.com, support@micros0ft-help.com, look-alike domains using digits or extra hyphens
• Free-email impersonation - any "official" message from a bank, courier, or platform sent from a @gmail.com, @outlook.com, or @yahoo.com address
• Reply-To mismatch - the From address looks legitimate but Reply-To points somewhere completely different

Why this matters

Real companies own their domains and send mail from them. A "DHL" message from a Gmail address is never legitimate, regardless of how convincing the body looks.

2

Watch for urgency, threats, and generic greetings

30 sec

Scams almost always rush you. The point is to make you act before you think. Treat any of the following as a strong signal:

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Final notice" / "Immediate action required"
• "Dear Customer" or "Dear User" instead of your real name
• Threats of fines, account closure, legal action, or arrest
• Promises of refunds, prizes, or money you didn't earn
• Spelling and grammar mistakes in messages claiming to come from a major brand

3

Hover over every link before clicking

30 sec

On a desktop, hover the mouse over the link without clicking. The real destination shows in the bottom-left status bar of your browser or email client. On a phone, long-press the link to preview the URL.

• Real Microsoft, PayPal, or bank links go to those exact domains, not redirects through unrelated sites
• Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co) hide the real destination - never click them in unsolicited mail
• The visible link text and the actual URL must match - mismatches are the single biggest phishing red flag

Pro tip

When in doubt, don't click the link. Open a new browser tab and type the company's address yourself, then log in normally. If there really is an issue with your account, you'll see it there.

4

Treat unexpected attachments as hostile

30 sec

If you didn't ask for the file, don't open it - even if it appears to come from someone you know. Categories that should never be opened from email without verification through another channel:

• .exe, .scr, .iso, .img, .vbs, .bat - executables, never legitimate attachments
• .docx, .xlsx, .pptx with "Enable macros" prompts - the macros run the malware
• .pdf with "Click here to view" buttons - usually a phishing redirect, not a real document
• .zip, .rar, .7z archives, especially password-protected ones - the password defeats the email scanner

Phase 2~ 2 min

Report and delete - if you haven't engaged

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If you only received the email and didn't reply, click, or open anything, the steps below are all you need. Your computer is not infected.

5

Don't reply, don't click "unsubscribe"

30 sec

Replying confirms your address is real and monitored, which gets you added to higher-value scam lists. The "unsubscribe" link in a scam message is rarely a real opt-out - it usually leads to a phishing page or downloads a tracking pixel.

Instead, mark the message as junk or phishing inside your email client (this trains the spam filter), then block the sender.

6

Report the scam to your email provider and authorities

1 min

Inside your email client:

• Gmail: open the message → ⋮ menu → Report phishing
• Outlook / Outlook.com: ⋯ menu → Report → Report phishing
• Apple Mail / iCloud: Move to Junk, then forward to reportphishing@apple.com

Forward or report to authorities:

• International: forward to reportphishing@apwg.org
• United States: ic3.gov (FBI)
• United Kingdom: forward phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk (NCSC SERS); for financial loss report at reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
• Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
• Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
• EU: your national CERT - find yours via the ENISA CSIRT map

After reporting, delete the email and empty the Trash folder so you don't accidentally open it later.

Phase 3~ 10–60 min

Recover - if you already engaged with the scam

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Pick the step below that matches what you did. If multiple apply, work through them in the order they appear - the steps are arranged from lowest to highest risk.

7

You only clicked a link (didn't enter anything or download anything)

Scenario: clicked link only10 min

Close the page right away. Don't enter any information, even if the page looks legitimate.

• Clear your browser cache and cookies for the last hour - Chrome/Edge: Ctrl+Shift+Del → Last hour → check Cookies and Cached files
• Run a quick scan with Combo Cleaner in case the page tried to drop a file silently (drive-by download)
• Update your browser to the latest version - most drive-by exploits target outdated browsers
• Watch for new browser pop-ups, redirects, or unfamiliar notifications over the next few days

Why this matters

Modern browsers block most drive-by attacks, but a single click on a phishing page can still be enough on an outdated browser or unpatched plugin. A quick scan catches anything that landed silently.

8

You opened an attachment or downloaded a file - run a full malware scan

Scenario: opened attachment⚠ Highest risk60–90 min

Opening an attachment is the most common path to actual infection. Treat the system as compromised until the scans below come back clean. Work through these sub-steps in order:

8.1Disconnect from the network

Unplug Ethernet and turn off Wi-Fi. If the attachment was an info-stealer or remote-access trojan, this stops it from sending data out or receiving commands. Keep the network off until you've booted into Safe Mode (next step) - you'll reconnect there briefly to download the scanners.

8.2Boot into Safe Mode with Networking, then download the scanners

Windows 11: Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 5 or F5.

Windows 10: hold Shift, click Power → Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press F5.

Once Safe Mode has loaded, turn Wi-Fi back on and download Combo Cleaner (used in 8.4) and Microsoft Safety Scanner (used in 8.5). Safe Mode loads only minimal drivers, so most malware can't auto-run while you're getting the tools. Save both installers to your Desktop.

8.3Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts into a stripped-down environment and scans the disk before Windows fully loads - this is what catches rootkits and bootkits.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, and anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.

Download Combo Cleaner

8.4Run a full Combo Cleaner scan

Install Combo Cleaner and run a full system scan (not the quick scan). Let it complete fully, review what it found, and apply the recommended actions. Combo Cleaner will quarantine known trojans and remove their persistence in the registry.

8.5Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe). The binary expires every 10 days, which means every download has the latest signatures. Run a full scan after Combo Cleaner to catch anything one engine alone might miss.

8.6Reset browsers and clear notification permissions

Many email-borne trojans drop adware that hijacks browsers. Reset each browser you use:

Chrome: chrome://settings/reset → Restore settings to their original defaults. Then chrome://settings/content/notifications - remove unfamiliar sites.

Edge: edge://settings/reset. Then edge://settings/content/notifications.

Firefox: about:support → Refresh Firefox.

8.7Re-enable Defender, Tamper Protection, and update everything

Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all on. Then run Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and update browsers and applications.

Important

If the scans keep finding new threats on each run, or files reappear after deletion, you may have a deeper compromise that needs a clean Windows reinstall. See pcrisk's full manual malware removal guide for the extended procedure (Process Explorer, Autoruns, hosts file inspection).

9

You entered credentials on a fake login page

Scenario: shared password⚠ Act fast20 min

Assume the attacker has your password and is using it right now. Speed matters.

1. Change the password from a different, known-clean device (your phone is fine if it's not infected). Don't reuse the old password anywhere else.
2. Enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already. Prefer an authenticator app or hardware key over SMS.
3. Sign out of all sessions - most platforms have a "sign out everywhere" option in security settings, which kicks the attacker out.
4. Review recent activity - look for unfamiliar logins, new devices, forwarding rules, or app permissions. Remove anything you don't recognize.
5. Check your other accounts - if you reused that password anywhere else, change it there too. Check your exposure at haveibeenpwned.com.
6. Update security questions - the attacker may have seen the answers in your account profile.

Why email comes first

If you only have time to change one password, change your primary email password - it's the recovery hub for every other account. An attacker who controls your email can reset everything else.

10

You sent money or shared bank, card, or ID details

Scenario: financial loss⚠ Contact bank now30 min

Time is the single biggest factor in recovering money. Banks can sometimes recall a wire or reverse a card transaction within the first few hours.

1. Call your bank or card issuer immediately. Use the number on the back of the card, not any number from the scam email. Ask them to freeze the card, reverse the transaction if possible, and flag the account for fraud monitoring.
2. If you sent a wire transfer or used a money-transfer service (Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle, Wise), call them directly and request a recall. Some can be reversed within minutes if reported fast.
3. If you sent cryptocurrency or gift cards, recovery is unlikely - but report it anyway, since law enforcement tracks these patterns.
4. File a police report. You'll need the report number for any insurance, bank, or credit-bureau claim. Save the report number.
5. File with the right authority for your country:
   • US: ic3.gov + reportfraud.ftc.gov
   • UK: reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
   • Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
   • Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
   • EU: your national CERT or police cybercrime unit
6. Set fraud alerts on all major credit bureaus if you shared any ID details. US: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion (Cifas Protective Registration is a stronger option).
7. Save all evidence - the original email (with full headers), screenshots of the fake site, transaction records, any phone numbers or chat logs.

Phase 4~ 15 min + 30 days

Verify & monitor

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11

Final scan and startup-app check

15 min

Reconnect to the network and run one final full scan with Combo Cleaner, followed by a Windows Defender quick scan. Then open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to Startup apps - disable anything unfamiliar.

Make sure Windows, browsers, and any applications you use are fully up to date. The infection vector that worked on you once usually involves outdated software.

12

Monitor accounts and credit for 30 days

5 min/day · 30 days

Most fraud follow-ups land in the first month. Until that window closes, keep watching:

• Bank and card statements - daily for the first week, then weekly
• Email - watch for password-reset confirmations or login alerts you didn't trigger
• Credit report - US: free at annualcreditreport.com; UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion all have free tiers
• Breach alerts - sign up at haveibeenpwned.com to be notified when your email appears in new leaks

If anything new appears in any of those, treat it as a continuing compromise: change passwords again, contact the bank again, and update the police report.

Important: If you didn't click anything, didn't reply, and didn't open any attachment, your computer is not infected - just delete the email and move on. If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there. That path catches the vast majority of email-borne malware without the risk of breaking Windows by deleting the wrong file.