We've been warning about lottery scams for a few years now, but every once in a while, we still get inquiries from folks who worry us because it appears they're about to fall for a scam.
I recently got an e-mail from a man in India who said he’d gotten an e-mail informing him he'd won $500,000 in Powerball. The man was ready to provide me with all of his personal information, and that's exactly what scammers are hoping for so they can separate victims from their hard-earned money.
I e-mailed the man back to warn him that it appeared he was about to fall for a scam. Neither Powerball nor the Iowa Lottery send out e-mails like he'd referenced. We only know you're a winner when you present us with your winning ticket, so there's no reason for us to contact you in advance.
And remember, the only way you can win a prize in Powerball is if you've bought a ticket at a licensed retailer in Iowa or one of the other states where the game is sold.
We keep a lot of security reminders and warnings on our Web site. Click here to go to our Player Security page. The Federal Trade Commission also provides important warnings about lottery scams. Click here to visit the FTC's site.
If you get suspicious letters, telephone calls or e-mails about a lottery game, or if you're ever in doubt about information that supposedly came from a legitimate lottery, call the Iowa Lottery at 515.725.7900 and ask for our Security Department.
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