Be Alert For Potential Lottery Scams

Oklahoma Lottery players can protect themselves from con artists and scams through some easy tips and advice. Every day criminals look for ways to scam individuals out of money, and these con artists may use the lottery as a way to obtain your personal information.  With this information, a criminal can steal your personal identity information. Be on the alert!

If the proposal requires you to send money to someone in order to collect your prize, it is a scam.  Oklahoma Lottery winners do not have to send money to collect a legitimate lottery prize. 

If you become, or suspect that you have or may become a victim of a lottery-related crime, contact Oklahoma Lottery Security at 405-522-7765 or email security@lottery.ok.gov.

Below are some easy tips to make sure that your identity is safe:

Oklahoma Lottery Security Tips:

• When playing computer generated games, always check the numbers on your ticket before leaving the store to make sure they are the numbers you have selected to play. And, check the date on your ticket to be sure the ticket you get is dated the same day you bought the ticket.

• Always sign your ticket. This prevents another individual from cashing your ticket if it becomes lost or stolen.

• If you play a multiple draw ticket and win before the final drawing, make sure when you cash your prize that the retailer gives you an exchange ticket for the number of draws you have left from the original ticket.

• When cashing a winning ticket, make sure the retailer gives you the correct prize amount or gives you the original ticket back if they are unable to pay the winnings.

• If you purchase a scratcher (instant) ticket, check it to make sure the latex has not been previously scratched anywhere on the ticket.  If the ticket appears to have been tampered with, contact Oklahoma Lottery Security immediately.

• Only purchase lottery tickets from authorized Lottery retailers. If you are approached by an individual offering a winning ticket for cash, refuse the offer.

• Never agree to help a stranger cash a lottery ticket.

• The Lottery does not allow retailers to charge a commission or fee for paying prizes. If you are charged a commission or fee, please contact Lottery Security immediately.

Lottery scams to be aware of:

• Never claim a prize for any lottery ticket for someone you don’t know. If you are approached by a stranger asking for help cashing a ticket, contact Oklahoma Lottery Security and your local law enforcement immediately.

• “Good Faith” money is never required by the Lottery to claim a prize.

• Never reveal your credit card numbers, bank account numbers or social security number to anyone if you have any reason to question why they need this information. However, if you claim a lottery prize at any authorized Lottery Claim Center, you will be required to provide two forms of identification, including your social security number.

• Never respond to a phone call or e-mail from someone who offers you a guaranteed prize. You are not guaranteed a prize by the Lottery, only a chance to win if you purchase a valid ticket.

• Be suspicious of telephone calls from someone claiming to be with the Lottery. If you are in doubt, obtain the name of the individual and contact the Lottery for confirmation at 1-888 PLAY OLC (752-9652).

• Unless you specifically entered a “promotional game” sponsored by the Lottery, you will never be contacted by us informing you that you have won. If you receive a “winner” notice for a drawing you never entered or you are asked to send money to any person in order to claim your “prize,” this is likely a scam.

If you are suspicious about any notification that you have won a prize, contact Lottery Security at 405-522-7765.

In recent years, the Internet has become a means for criminals to defraud innocent people out of their money and identity. Fraud Watch International lists numerous lottery scams operating around the world. To view these scams, please visit Fraud Watch International’s website at http://www.fraudwatchinternational.com.

The Federal Trade Commission also has information to avoid fraudulent foreign lotteries. Visit the FTC’s website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/crossborder.  To report suspicious lottery material contact the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP.

Thank you for playing the Oklahoma Lottery.  Please play safely and responsibly and be alert to possible lottery scams.