Be On The Alert For Scams, Colorado Lottery Says

If you received a call and the person claiming to be Justin Timberlake identified themselves, your fraud detection would immediately be triggered. The Colorado Lottery and other sources suggest that anyone contacting you through a call, text, or phone is associated with Mega Millions. However, this statement might be met with similar doubt.

Especially considering the projected $1.35 billion jackpot (with an estimated cash-option value of $707.9 million) for the upcoming Mega Millions drawing on Friday.

As the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever approached, Meghan Dougherty, the communications manager for the lottery, addressed PlayinСolorado. She emphasized that whenever there are large prizes at stake, there is always an increase in fraudulent activities.

If you win the Colorado Lottery, be aware of what to expect.

According to Dougherty, the act of notifying someone that their remedy has been selected as the winner is considered the most significant deception in the Colorado Lottery. Similarly, according to Mega Millions:

According to , it is not a common practice for Mega Millions agents to reach out to individuals via phone call, text message, or email to inform them of a medal win. Powerball also supports this statement, mentioning that lotteries generally do not contact winners through email or phone calls, unless the individual has specifically entered a recognized drawing event or competition.

The Scratch Second Chance drawing winners of the Colorado Lottery are occasionally contacted or visited by the organization. However, Dougherty emphasizes that the winners must personally collect their prizes from a drawing studio, as this cannot be done over the phone or online.

Dougherty cautioned players to avoid clicking on any emailed links unless they came directly from the lottery, accompanied by their standard message. Additionally, he advised individuals to maintain skepticism regarding names associated with the lottery.

Keep an eye out for these warning signs of drawing scams.

According to Dougherty, fraudsters prefer to center their schemes around high-risk bowl games such as Mega Millions and Powerball.

In April of this year, Mega Millions discovered that WhatsApp emails and phone calls were misleading individuals. These communications falsely claimed that recipients had won cars, cash, and other prizes. It was revealed that some participants had unknowingly entered more than just a raffle.

According to the Better Business Bureau, con artists often employ the tactic of demanding payment or personal information in return for rewards, with the ultimate aim of deceiving you into sending them money or compromising your personal data.

warning of drawing crooks

• The scammer falsely asserts that they have emerged victorious in a past competition and wishes to spread their good fortune. Scammers have indeed made fraudulent claims of being the winners.
• Scammers are providing counterfeit lottery tickets at a reduced price, explicitly indicating that these accounts are fraudulent.
• Swindlers deceive you by sending a counterfeit test, and then insist that you return the money to compensate for expenses.
• According to the Better Business Bureau, it is highly unlikely for any legitimate lottery to require payment of taxes or fees prior to receiving an honor. Scammers, however, falsely claim that such payments are necessary.
• According to KUSA, certain scam artists may falsely claim association with nonexistent organizations like Mega Millions International Lottery and the United States National Lotterie.

Nevertheless, Instagram inadvertently became a fertile environment for swindlers targeting the residents of Colorado. Individuals on Instagram were approached by fraudsters pretending to be representatives of the Colorado Lottery, all in the guise of a social gathering.

Another set of illustrations depicting drawing scams has been posted by the Colorado Lottery.

In the end, it is recommended that you only utilize the funds you spent on your initial raffle tickets. Additionally, both Powerball and the Federal Trade Commission have stressed that revealing your personal information to claim a prize is not warranted.

If you’ve been duped, what should you do?

If you encounter any Colorado jackpot scams, you can choose from multiple options to report them:

• https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
• the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Your State
• the customer service department located in your locality
• If a counterfeit blog was committed, the US Postal Inspection Service would be involved.

There are steps you can take to retrieve your money or, at the very least, reduce the negative impact.