Scam Alert: Bogus State Lotteries
by: Sid Kirchheimer Source: AARP Bulletin Today July 20, 2009
The phony promise of a lottery jackpot has long been among the
most successful scams, ensnaring victims even when the “lucky
winner” has never visited the foreign country that supposedly
sponsored the drawing.
But while thousands of Americans continue to be tempted by bogus
prize notifications from the Irish National Lottery, Australian Lotto and
scores of other overseas games, there are others that are just as
dangerous—lottery scams in our own states.
Bogus state lotteries began to surface last year, one of several new
spins on fake lotteries. In a recent ruse, e-mails inform recipients that
they have won a $500,000 “South Dakota Web Lottery.” Although the message contains the
state lottery’s correct street address to give it a sense of authenticity, the contact “claims agent”
is a scammer.
These smooth-talking agents elicit personal and banking information from the e-mail recipients,
or persuade them to send an upfront payment for processing fees or other supposed expenses.
“Foreign lottery and sweepstakes scams are unfortunately common scams, but this is the first
one we’ve seen that uses the South Dakota Lottery to lure victims,” state lottery director
Norman Lingle said in a prepared statement.
In Colorado, citizens are receiving letters via U.S. mail containing the authentic state lottery
logo, a Denver mailing address, and a “teaser” check supposedly deducted from the alleged
$85,000 prize—the recipients’ names may have been harvested from other sweepstakes they
have entered. But cashing that counterfeit check “may give a scam artist access to your
personal bank account information,” warns Colorado Lottery director Jack Boehm. And once the
check bounces, the funds must be repaid to the bank, including any portion sent to the
scammers ostensibly to cover expenses.
Since early spring there has been a new wave of phony prize notifications, and new concerns.
“As consumers struggle with hard times caused by the economic downturn, they may be even
more tempted to respond to false announcements they receive informing them that they have
won a lottery,” explains Gov. David A. Paterson, D, of New York, where citizens are being
contacted by telephone, fax, e-mail and even mobile text messages about phony lottery
winnings. “Our advice to those who receive notices that they’ve won a lottery they didn’t enter is
clear and simple: Don’t respond!”
That’s good advice, and here’s more:
• If you didn’t buy a lottery ticket from an authorized vendor, you didn’t win, plain and simple. No
legitimate lottery will ever contact you; it’s your responsibility to notify the state lottery
commission, with the winning ticket in hand.
• You never have to pay upfront fees of any kind to claim a legitimate state lottery prize.
• Be suspicious of people who approach you offering to sell a winning lottery ticket (often, the
excuse is that they are in this country illegally). This ruse is especially common in Florida and
has claimed many older victims.
• See the list of known phony lottery games. There are always new ones emerging, but if your
“jackpot” is from one of these, it’s a sure bet it’s a scam.
For more information on lottery scams, the Fraud Aid Inc. website offers tips on protecting
yourself. If you’ve already fallen victim, contact your state lottery office and attorney general’s
office.
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourmoney/scamalert/articles/scam_alert_state_lotteries_are_now_targets_for_fraud.
html
by: Sid Kirchheimer Source: AARP Bulletin Today July 20, 2009
The phony promise of a lottery jackpot has long been among the
most successful scams, ensnaring victims even when the “lucky
winner” has never visited the foreign country that supposedly
sponsored the drawing.
But while thousands of Americans continue to be tempted by bogus
prize notifications from the Irish National Lottery, Australian Lotto and
scores of other overseas games, there are others that are just as
dangerous—lottery scams in our own states.
Bogus state lotteries began to surface last year, one of several new
spins on fake lotteries. In a recent ruse, e-mails inform recipients that
they have won a $500,000 “South Dakota Web Lottery.” Although the message contains the
state lottery’s correct street address to give it a sense of authenticity, the contact “claims agent”
is a scammer.
These smooth-talking agents elicit personal and banking information from the e-mail recipients,
or persuade them to send an upfront payment for processing fees or other supposed expenses.
“Foreign lottery and sweepstakes scams are unfortunately common scams, but this is the first
one we’ve seen that uses the South Dakota Lottery to lure victims,” state lottery director
Norman Lingle said in a prepared statement.
In Colorado, citizens are receiving letters via U.S. mail containing the authentic state lottery
logo, a Denver mailing address, and a “teaser” check supposedly deducted from the alleged
$85,000 prize—the recipients’ names may have been harvested from other sweepstakes they
have entered. But cashing that counterfeit check “may give a scam artist access to your
personal bank account information,” warns Colorado Lottery director Jack Boehm. And once the
check bounces, the funds must be repaid to the bank, including any portion sent to the
scammers ostensibly to cover expenses.
Since early spring there has been a new wave of phony prize notifications, and new concerns.
“As consumers struggle with hard times caused by the economic downturn, they may be even
more tempted to respond to false announcements they receive informing them that they have
won a lottery,” explains Gov. David A. Paterson, D, of New York, where citizens are being
contacted by telephone, fax, e-mail and even mobile text messages about phony lottery
winnings. “Our advice to those who receive notices that they’ve won a lottery they didn’t enter is
clear and simple: Don’t respond!”
That’s good advice, and here’s more:
• If you didn’t buy a lottery ticket from an authorized vendor, you didn’t win, plain and simple. No
legitimate lottery will ever contact you; it’s your responsibility to notify the state lottery
commission, with the winning ticket in hand.
• You never have to pay upfront fees of any kind to claim a legitimate state lottery prize.
• Be suspicious of people who approach you offering to sell a winning lottery ticket (often, the
excuse is that they are in this country illegally). This ruse is especially common in Florida and
has claimed many older victims.
• See the list of known phony lottery games. There are always new ones emerging, but if your
“jackpot” is from one of these, it’s a sure bet it’s a scam.
For more information on lottery scams, the Fraud Aid Inc. website offers tips on protecting
yourself. If you’ve already fallen victim, contact your state lottery office and attorney general’s
office.
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourmoney/scamalert/articles/scam_alert_state_lotteries_are_now_targets_for_fraud.
html
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