Individuals with malicious intent are constantly seeking opportunities to take money from diligent individuals. In the year 2022, over $8 billion was fraudulently obtained from Americans through various scams. Presently, authorities in Michigan are cautioning the public about a specific scheme that poses a threat to individuals engaged in Lottery activities.
The Michigan Lottery has issued a warning regarding fraudulent activities where individuals impersonate lottery agents. According to spokesperson Jake Harris, such schemes tend to be more prevalent during and after the holiday season, given the tradition of exchanging gifts during Christmas.
Harris emphasized the importance of reminding individuals who are not regular participants in lottery games that winning a prize is contingent upon having a valid ticket. Therefore, if someone purporting to be a Lottery official approaches them, asserting that they have won a substantial prize without possessing a ticket, it is unequivocally false.
The perpetrators of this scam employ various methods. One approach involves reaching out to a potential victim and informing them of their supposed prize, but with the condition that they must pay a fee to claim their winnings.
Typically, the victim is instructed to obtain a cashier’s check and send it via mail or initiate an electronic fund transfer. In some instances, the fraudulent agent may arrange a face-to-face meeting with the alleged “winner” to facilitate the payment of the purported fee.
Criminals employ an additional tactic by claiming that they themselves, as scammers, have won a prize and express a desire to share it with others, including the targeted victim. Subsequently, the fraudster informs the victim that they can partake in the winnings by paying a fee. If the victim agrees, the scam artist directs them to execute an electronic funds transfer, mail a cashier’s check, or arrange a meeting at a designated location. Harris advised victims to promptly reach out to local law enforcement if they suspect they have fallen victim to a scam.
Additionally, they have the option to report the fraudulent activity to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by accessing the federal agency’s official website.
