Every time I think scam attempts can’t get any more disgusting, I’m proven wrong. The latest example just found its way into my inbox today.
It seems that someone has decided to borrow the names of our latest Powerball jackpot winners here in Iowa in an attempt to bilk folks out of money. An email is circulating that supposedly comes directly from the jackpot winners. It claims they have decided to give away $1 million to you through a charity they’ve established to help people around the world. And here’s the best part of the claim: If you’re one of the lucky recipients of the email, all you have to do is reply and they will helpfully “send your details to the payout bank.”
You caught that last part, right? I’m sure that one of the details the scammers will be seeking is YOUR account information and/or some sort of processing fee in advance so they can arrange that fictitious payment to you. Magically, you may do your part, but a payment will never come. You’ll be out whatever money they got from you or that personal information you gave up. That’s how the scams work.
Scammers have been borrowing the names of legitimate organizations for years in an attempt to separate you from your hard-earned money. We’ve seen scam attempts using the lottery’s name, Powerball’s name, Mega Millions’ name and even the lottery CEO’s name. Now comes this email allegedly from the big jackpot winners. It is true that the winners are planning to make a difference in their community with their winnings. But that email is not from them.
The Iowa Lottery has issued repeated warnings about lottery-related scams. We’ve held news conferences, run public-service announcements, and we keep security reminders as a permanent feature on our website. So do other lotteries around the country.
Why hasn’t anyone been able to stop the scammers? In general, they operate from outside the country and are nearly impossible to trace. The best protection is to arm yourself with information and remain vigilant. Remember these security tips:
Never wire funds from a check you've received to pay “taxes or fees” for a promised lottery or sweepstakes prize. You'll never see your money again. Reject any kind of scheme that sends you a check and asks you to wire money back.
To avoid all types of lottery scams, never believe a letter, phone call or message from anyone who claims they can guarantee you a prize! Legitimate lotteries do not guarantee that you will win a prize and do not require people to join prize pools to play.
Never pay processing fees, insurance or commissions to claim a lottery prize. Legitimate lotteries do not require winners to pay anything up front to receive a prize.
Keep your Social Security, credit card and bank account numbers to yourself. Scam artists ask for them with the goal of accessing your accounts and stealing your money.
Don’t be scammed! If you ever have a concern about the Iowa Lottery, our products or operations, please call us at 515-725-7900 or email us at [email protected].
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