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BBB: Beware of sweepstakes, lottery scams

Better Business Bureau
Sweepstakes, lottery and prize schemes have devastated victims financially and emotionally with ever-evolving methods for years. Scam operators – often based in Canada – are using the telephone and direct mail to either entice U.S. consumers to buy chances in high-stakes foreign lotteries or simply congratulate them for their recent win in an attempt to collect their personal financial information.
Typically, these frauds concentrate on seniors, targeting them by direct mail, cold calling, social media, even text messages and smartphone pop-ups.
These lottery solicitations violate U.S. law, which prohibits the cross-border sales or purchase of lottery tickets by phone or mail. Still, authorities continue to intercept and destroy millions of foreign lottery mailings sent or delivered by the truckload to the US and consumers who are lured by the prospect of instant wealth.
Better Business Bureau Serving Acadiana recently received, from a local Acadiana consumer, a foreign lottery scam direct mail from Interprovincial Lottery Corporation allegedly based out of Ontario, Canada. The notification stated that it was the consumer’s "Final Award Notification" and that she needed to submit information back to them to claim her prize. Of course, the information needed included her personal identifiable information, including her Social Security number, and her bank account and routing numbers for payment processing. This consumer reported to BBB that she knew it was a scam because she hadn’t even entered into a lottery drawing. BBB urges consumers to be cautious when dealing with foreign lottery solicitations as most are likely to be scams attempting to collect your personal financial information.
BBB offers the following tips for consumers to avoid being caught in lottery or sweepstakes fraud:
—True lotteries or sweepstakes don’t ask for money. If they want money for taxes, themselves, or a third party, they are most likely crooks.
—Call the lottery or sweepstakes company directly to see if you won. Publishers Clearing House does have a sweepstakes but does not call people in advance to tell them they’ve won. Report PCH imposters to their hotline at 800-392-4190.
—Check to see if you won a lottery. Call the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries at 440-361-7962 or your local state lottery agency.
—Do an internet search of the company, name, or phone number of the person who contacted you.
—Law enforcement does not call and award prizes.
—Talk to a trusted family member or your bank. They may be able to help you stay in control of your money in the face of fraudster pressure.
Consumers should keep in mind that playing a foreign lottery through the mail, over the phone or Internet generally violates federal law and is illegal. If you receive what looks like lottery material from a foreign country, turn it over to your local postmaster.
“Look for the Seal” and Start with Trust. BBB Serving Acadiana is a private non-profit organization that strives for a trustworthy marketplace by maintaining standards for truthful advertising, investigating and exposing fraud against consumers and businesses. BBB strives to make Acadiana a better place to live and work.
Please contact Better Business Bureau at (337) 981-3497 24 or bbb.org 24 hours a day for information on businesses throughout North America. Consumers can also sign up for our free BBB “Scoop” eNewsletter by visiting bbb.org and clicking on the “Programs & Services” tab.
BBB Serving Acadiana services the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Landry and Vermilion.

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Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874

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1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255