Lottery Scams

Lottery enthusiasts can be a target for con artists, so it's important to know how to identify a scam and how to take action. The Texas Lottery Commission gives its players guidance on how to spot a scam, as well as advice on how to protect themselves.

How to Spot a Scam

Scammers have developed multiple strategies to try and trick their victims. However, you can recognize most of them by noticing some clear signs. Below you can explore some tips for spotting a scam:

• You receive a call, letter, email or message telling you that you won an international lottery, raffle or contest that you did not enter. You cannot win a prize if you didn't buy a ticket for the draw in question.
• They ask you to pay a fee in order to be able to claim your winnings. They might ask you to pay through a gift card, pre-loaded payment card, your credit card or bank account. The Texas Lottery does not require you to pay anything to claim your winnings as taxes and other obligations are subtracted from the prize amount.
• They insist that they cannot claim the prize because they're not a United States citizen. You don't have to be a US citizen in order to be able to claim a prize from the Texas Lottery.
• When they tell you that you won a prize, they claim that they are affiliated with the Texas Lottery Commission. Usually, the Texas Lottery Commission doesn't directly contact winners as they can't know the winners' identities until they come forward to claim their winnings. In case you win a second-chance drawing, you will receive your prize by mail. The agency will never ask you to pay a fee or provide personal information in order to receive a prize.
• You receive an email from someone offering their support in setting up a lottery franchise. This type of offer is not associated with the Texas Lottery Commission and may involve illegal activity.

How to Protect Yourself

The possibility of becoming a scammer's target does not mean you shouldn't enter the lottery anymore. All you need to do is follow some simple steps in order to protect yourself:

• You should only buy lottery tickets from authorized retailers.
• Don't give out personal or financial information (home address, bank account details, full name) if it's requested by mail, phone, text, email or social media.
• Don't pay any requested fees in order to be able to claim a prize.
• Be careful when you are asked to enter a lottery pool. You should only pool your money with those you trust, as well as make sure you understand what your share in any winnings would be. The Texas Lottery recommends that you ask for all terms and conditions in writing before you join a lottery pool.
• Don't buy tickets from strangers who claim they sell "winning" tickets. Those tickets could be fake, stolen, altered or they have already been claimed.
• It is important to report the potential fraud or scam to the appropriate authorities. In case someone tells you that they are coming to your home in order to collect payment, you must contact your local law enforcement agency.
• If you are unsure whether you are the victim of a scam, please call 1-800-37LOTTO (1-800-375-6886)