US lottery company warns of jackpot winner impersonation scam

Edwin Castro, who won the $2.04 billion jackpot in February

NY POST SCREENSHOT

The New York Post reported on June 17 that an online scammer impersonated the richest Powerball jackpot winner in history and promised to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars to victims in exchange for personal information.

A scammer sent a random email on June 16, impersonating Edwin Castro (30 years old), a resident of California (USA), who won the Powerball prize with a record amount of 2.04 billion USD in February.

In the playfully worded email, the scammer claims he wants to give $800,000 in “donations to select individuals” who are willing to share “personal details.”

"Please note, I am Edwin Castro winner of the world's largest lottery prize," the email read, including a link to a Guinness World Records page detailing the winner.

The scammer then urges the recipient to contact “Mr Raymond Bradson” to send the donation code and personal details.

The villa on Hollowood Hill (California, USA) that Castro bought after winning the lottery

MEGA SCREENSHOT

One recipient said he followed the instructions until a friend told him it was too easy to be true. "Edwin's name has been in the news a lot so it seems credible for a while. What if someone less cautious or tech-savvy like my elderly parents gets it?" he wondered.

The California Lottery said it is aware of the scam and is urging players to be wary of offers promising deposits.

“This isn’t the first time someone has taken advantage of the names of big winners,” said company spokeswoman Carolyn Becker.

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