A report released by the BBB found that the number of sweepstakes and lottery scams have increased over the last year, with $117 million in losses reported in 2017.
“But I’m not at risk, right?”
Well, technically everyone faces some risk of falling victim to one of these scams. Criminals continue to find new ways to make prize scams seem legitimate, and their target audience is widespread.
If you have a home address, a phone number, an email, or a social media account, you may be contacted about fraudulent winnings. While there will always be scams, we have some good news. There are ways to protect yourself and loved ones from being a victim of fraud.
So how can you know if your winnings are real or not? Here are some tips on staying safe from lottery fraud:
- The N.C. Education Lottery will never ask you to pay money before receiving your winnings. If you receive a call or email asking you to send money for taxes or fees on a prize, that should be a red flag.
- If you don’t remember entering a particular lottery or sweepstakes, then chances are you didn’t, and you can’t win a prize.
- Never send out personal information, money, bank account numbers, or documents in an email or letter to someone promising prizes.
- Consult with your bank or a trusted family member if you suspect fraud.
- If you have any security questions or concerns, please call our security hotline at 888-732-6235.
For additional information on scams and reporting suspicious activity, check out the Player Security page under the Corporate Social Responsibility tab on our website. You can also find the BBB report here.
As a general rule of thumb, remember:
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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