I have been writing about scams related to Mavis Wanczyk for five years.  Many of you may not remember the name of Mavis Wanczyk, but she was the lucky winner of a 758 million dollar Powerball drawing in 2017. Not long after she claimed her prize, a scam started appearing in which many people received emails with the message line referring to the Mavis  Wanczyk Cash Grant. The email indicated that you were chosen to receive a large cash grant from Mavis  Wanczyk. All the lucky strangers receiving the emails had to do was provide personal information in order to qualify for the grant. In addition, phony social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were also set up in Ms. Wanczyk’s name through which people were contacted with the same phony offer of free money informing them that in order to qualify for the grant they merely needed to provide personal information.

Yesterday a Scamicide reader received the following text which purported to be from Scott Godfrey who won 699.8 million dollars in a Powerball drawing in 2021.  Here is a copy of that text.

“Hello, I’m Scott Godfrey the winner of $699.8 Million in Power Ball Jackpot.  I have voluntarily decided to donate the sum of $70,000.00 each to 20 citizens so if you get this message then your number was selected after a spin ball. I have spread most of my wealth over a number of charities and organizations.. Kindly get back to my agent DOYLE TERRY +1 (515) 257-0669 with a text. Text him for confirmation and delivery of your winnings .if you’re really interested to be one of the luckiest Man/Woman and May God Bless You And Your Family.”

TIPS

It is difficult to win a lottery you have entered. It is impossible to win one that you have never entered and neither lottery winners, nor anyone else is sending out messages through emails or text messages offering free money to anyone who responds with personal information. Never give out personal information that can make you vulnerable to identity theft unless you have absolutely verified that the party requesting the personal information is legitimate and has a legitimate need for the information.

Also never pay anything to a lottery claiming you owe fees in order to claim your prize.  This is a telltale sign of a scam.  No legitimate lottery requires the payment of a fee to collect your winnings or requires you to pay the lottery income taxes on the prize.  While income taxes are due on lottery winnings, those taxes are either deducted by the lottery sponsor before giving you your prize or the prize is given to you in full and you are responsible for the payment of any taxes.  No lottery collects taxes on behalf of the IRS.

Also, neither Mavis Wanczyk, nor Scott Godfrey nor any other lottery winner is giving away money to strangers.

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