Mega Millions Scams
Mega Millions scams usually come in the form of advance-fee fraud schemes, which involve a fraudster falsely contacting individuals claiming that they are due a large sum of money. In order to receive this money the victim usually has to pay some sort of fee or provide information about themselves in order to receive it.
On this page, you will find the various types of scams that lottery players should be aware of and tips on how to avoid them. Before you fall for a scam, run through the below points:
Is it too good to be true? If it sounds good to be true, then there is a good chance it is. Take a step back and think about what is going on with a clear head and look for any signs, many of which are mentioned below, that show it’s a scam.
Did you enter a lottery draw? You cannot win a lottery without entering. If you have not entered a lottery, let alone the one in question, then you cant have won.
Are they asking you to provide any information or pay a fee? Firstly, you will never have to pay a fee to receive lottery winnings ever- this is a classic attempt to just take your money and run. If they are asking for details then look closely to what details they are asking for and what they could possibly do with them. If they could do something malicious with these details, such as stealing your money, then do not provide them.
How to Identify a Mega Millions Scam
Mega Millions scams take various forms, but here are some key features to look out for:
- Poor quality and incorrect grammar in a letter or email. The letter or email may be addressed to 'email holder' or 'winner' or 'reader', rather than using the victim's name. This is because the scams are sent to many people at once who they do not know, so cannot provide any specific details to the victim to identify them.
- Some mail and email scams can look authentic, as scammers illegitimately use Mega Millions branding to persuade victims. Look closely at the quality of images used to see if they are the correct ones or a peixelated copy, especially if you have received a physical letter.
- The victim may receive a fake check, which can be attached to an email or letter and the fraudster might claim that it is for 'government taxes' or 'expenses'. Do not open any attachment if you do not fully trust it.
- The correspondence sent to the victim will emphasise that they should act to claim their prize as soon as possible and urges them to keep it 'confidential'. This is to make sure that the person who received the correspondence does not seek advice from others, which may expose the scam, or act quickly without logically thinking it through. Real lotteries give you up to 365 days to respond and allow you to tell anybody you want.
- The victim is asked to pay a 'processing fee' or 'tax' to be able to receive their winnings. You will never have to pay to get your winnings for a real lottery.
- Check the name of the lottery, as sometimes slight changes to a real lottery are used as a name, such as “Massive Mega Millions” or “Mega Lottery”
Types of Mega Millions Scams
Mega Millions scams can take five different forms:
An email is sent to the victim, letting them know that they have won a large sum of prize money and it asks them to pay 'fees' or 'taxes' if they want to receive the full prize winnings. A link to a website where prizes can be 'claimed' may also be included in the email, which could be used for 'phishing' personal information or installing spyware on the victim's computer, giving the criminal access to private information.
Similar to email scams, a mail scam will try to convince the victim that they have won a huge sum of money and that they need to mail back a portion to be able to receive the full sum.
Phone
The fraudster calls the victim to notify them that they have won a large Mega Millions prize in the hope that they will agree to paying any 'fees' or 'taxes' to release the money. Scammers often use specific area codes that look like domestic U.S. phone numbers to trick victims, including; 876 (Jamaica), 473 (Grenada) and 268 (Antigua). Scammers may also attempt to find out the victim’s bank details in order to access their accounts illicitly.
Cell Phone
Scammers send a text message to the victim from an unknown number telling them that they have won a Mega Millions prize. To claim the prize, victims are requested to call the number back, often on a premium rate number.
Social Media
The victim receives a message on their personal Facebook, Twitter or another social media platform notifying them that they have been selected to win a Mega Millions prize. They are then told to act immediately and follow a specific, often malicious, link to claim the prize.
How to Report a Lottery Scam
If you believe you have been contacted by a Mega Millions scammer, it is very important that you do not provide personal or financial information. If you already have, contact your bank as soon as possible to minimize the risk of identity fraud or theft.
To report a lottery scam, you can contact your state's Attorney General using the list provided by the National Association of Attorneys General: http://www.naag.org/naag/attorneys-general/whos-my-ag.php
Complaints can also be sent to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), a consumer protection agency: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov