Scammers Aim to Use Lottery Jackpot to Get You to Respond to Scam

Monday, August 15th, 2022 -- 9:04 AM

(Raymond Neupert) -Criminals are trying to use last month's record-setting lottery jackpot to scam you.

State consumer protection administrator Lara Sutherlin says the scam is a common one, but the crooks are trying to be timely with the message.  "You've got a purported winner of the lottery, that doesn't want to keep the money off for themselves. And they're graciously trying to give it away."

Sutherlin says the crooks claim to be someone trying to give away their lottery winnings, and all they need for you to do is contact them. "So they then ask you to call an agent and they give you a number, or they asked you to text them. And that's the scam: they're trying to engage you, steal your identity, steal your money."

Sutherlin says the scammers claim to be trying to give away lottery winnings, but it's just a trick.

"Absolutely ignore these texts offering to give you part of their lottery winnings, you block that number, and you certainly don't respond, and you certainly don't call back the number in the text."

Sutherlin says the actual scam itself may be different, whether people are trying to get money, personal information, or other things from you. If you get one of these texts, just ignore it.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.