Be aware of lottery scams

by Commissioner Gary Peters

Scams have been around for years, and, unfortunately, even games of chance and lotteries are not immune.

We’ve received a number of calls and e-mails at the Michigan Lottery from wary players who are suspicious of offers they’ve received, and we are glad that folks recognize us as the only legitimate game in town and see us as a resource of information. People always need to remember: things that appear too good to be true usually are.

Most illegal lottery businesses have their home base outside of this country, but they cannot be prevented from using cards, letters, phone calls and e-mails that promise instant prizes.

They usually ask for a fee or credit card number to guarantee a prize or for insurance to mail the prize. Once the information they want is provided, it is often difficult—if not impossible —to get the money back because the operation is closed.

It is distressing to me that these scams often prey on senior citizens. These folks sometimes don’t recognize these operations as scams.

They instead see them as ways to become instant millionaires at no expense. Too often they lose hard-earned life savings and have no recourse.

Here are some scam awareness tips for you and your customers:
• Never give credit card numbers, bank account numbers or social security card numbers to anyone promising lottery prizes over the phone or Internet.
• Never accept a collect call from someone claiming to be a lottery official.
• Beware of offers that guarantee prize winnings.
• Never join a prize pool.
• Never pay anything up front in processing fees, insurance fees or commissions to claim a prize.
• Never trust someone who says you can win the lottery by purchasing winning numbers. A real lottery always requires a ticket purchase.

None of these practices—prize pools, buying numbers, collect calls—is ever part of Michigan’s lottery or any other legitimate lottery.

If you are ever in doubt about a game or offer, please contact us at the Michigan Lottery at:
milottery@michigan.gov
http://www.michigan.gov/lottery or
517.335.5756. To file a complaint, contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or 877.FTC.HELP (877.383.4357).

New instants
October 11:
• $2 Bingo Extra (top prize $25,000)
• $1 Wild Bill (top prize of $3,000)
• $2 Alley Cat Cash (top prize $25,000)

October 25:
• $5 Fantastic 4’s (top prize $400,000 with over 15,000 prizes of $40)
• $2 Let’s Make a Deal (top prize
$25,000)
• $10 Michigan Millionaire (top prize—you guessed it—$1 million).