Consumers need to be wary of letters or emails notifying them of a win in a lottery they never entered.
Such notices often explain that a large sum of money has been won, but that the consumer must pay an amount before receiving their prize to cover administration or insurance costs. It is common for the notice to explain that the winner must not tell anyone about their prize or it will be forfeited.
The notices may appear official, bearing company seals, signatures of directors, and business addresses. Contact phone numbers or email addresses supplied are likely to be responded to by someone involved in the scam.
Questions to ask:
Do I know who this company or person is?
Did I ever enter a lottery with this name?
Why should I trust the company or person sending this notice?
What to do:
Never send money to cover insurance or administration fees or share any other financial information to claim a prize.
If you believe the lottery is legitimate, obtain contact details from a reputable source such as the phone book and use these—not the details in the notice.
