MIDDLETOWN, Pa. Recently, a number of consumers have received an e-mail titled "Claim Your Powerball Prize." These e-mails, as well as other similar e-mails touting a lottery prize, are a scam according to the Pennsylvania Lottery's Security Office and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Recently, fraudulent offers supposedly involving national, state or international lotteries have been surfacing.
To make its players aware of these deceptive offers, the Pennsylvania Lottery issues the following information:
The Pennsylvania Lottery does not notify winners via e-mail or any other method when they win a Powerball(R) or other Pennsylvania Lottery game prize. Winners must contact the Lottery when they have a winning ticket. Individuals who win a Powerball(R) or other Pennsylvania Lottery jackpot prize must file a claim in person at Pennsylvania Lottery headquarters to receive their prize. The current scam using the Powerball(R) name and logo is an attempt to access personal information, such as Social Security Numbers or bank account information.
The Pennsylvania Lottery Security Office advises holders of potential winning Lottery jackpot tickets to sign the back of the ticket and keep it in a safe place until they file a claim. Jackpot winners should seek the advice of an attorney, financial adviser or investment counselor prior to contacting the Pennsylvania Lottery and filing a claim.
The Pennsylvania Lottery Security Office strongly advises people not to respond to suspicious e-mail or other correspondence claiming to be from the Pennsylvania Lottery. By responding, recipients alert senders that their e-mail account is active.
People who have lost money as a result of this type of scheme, or who have released personal or financial information in response to a fraudulent claim, can contact the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555, or visit www.attorneygeneral.gov.
Contacts
Pennsylvania Lottery
Steve Kniley, 717-787-6960
skniley@state.pa.us
