JACKSON, Miss.–The Mississippi Attorney General’s office is telling residents to be careful of fake phone marketers or fake lottery checks through the mail.
The latest scam to hit the state has seen some people getting letters through the mail claiming they’re grand prize winners of large amounts of money but it can also be done through phone or email.
“Lottery scams are reported to our office just about every day,” said Attorney General Jim Hood. “Cons will send out these checks hoping to convince the consumer into believing that they are getting a significant amount of money if they just cover a small amount of taxes or fees in return.”
The Attorney General’s office gives this advice to avoid lottery scams:
* You cannot win a legitimate lottery if you have not entered it. In
almost all cases you must purchase a ticket to enter a legitimate lottery.
If someone tells you that you’ve won a prize or contest you don’t remember
entering, it’s probably a scam.
* You never have to pay to collect winnings from a legitimate lottery.
You pay taxes AFTER you receive the winnings.
* If you hold a winning lottery ticket, you notify the lottery (they do
not notify you; not by email, not by phone, not by mail).
* It is illegal under U.S. federal law to play ANY foreign lottery from
the United States. Many other countries have similar laws.
