Lottery scams

Every day Floridians and visitors to Florida are targeted by unscrupulous individuals who try to prey upon the hopes and dreams of persons who want to win the lottery. These criminals' methods may vary but their intentions are clear – to steal your money or trick you into giving them personal information or financial information that is used to rob your bank accounts or identity. The Florida Lottery Division of Security works closely with local, state and federal law enforcement to investigate and apprehend these fraudsters. The Division of Security also participates in public awareness campaigns designed to alert citizens, visitors and even persons outside of Florida of these lottery scams.

Examples of these scams and fraud schemes include:

• Sending you a bogus check and asking for your bank account information where it will be deposited.
• Sending you a notice that you have been awarded a prize and asking for a "Processing Fee" to process your winnings.
• Sending you an email or letter advising that you've won the Florida Lottery and trying to obtain your personal information so "con artists" can contact you directly to persuade, harass or even intimidate you into sending them money.
• Using Florida Lottery logos or actual addresses on its fake correspondence in an attempt to make the scam appear legitimate.
• A stranger (who knows the ticket is stolen) asks you to redeem a lottery ticket for him.

Signs to beware of:

• An email, letter or telephone caller asks for money in order to collect a lottery prize.
• They want your personal or financial information in order to process your prize.
• They tell you that you won a lottery that you've entered or played.
• They want your social security number or credit card information.
• They want to meet at your home or a public place to pay your prize.

What to do:

• When in doubt – hang up or don't respond to the scam email or letter.
• If you have a question – contact your nearest Florida Lottery office or the Division of Security.
• Report the incident to local law enforcement.
• REMEMBER – If it's too good to be true, it's a scam.

Social Media scams

The Florida Lottery maintains a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Our followers should be wary of any message they receive from any of these social networking sites or other sources that may be impersonating the Florida Lottery. In particular, beware of scammers posing as Lottery agents or employees who communicate to you falsely that you've won a prize, or ask for personal or financial information. The only way to win a cash prize from the Florida Lottery is to purchase a ticket from a licensed lottery retailer. Social media users should also be wary of scammers posing as past Florida Lottery winners offering to send the user money or other prizes in exchange for personal information or payment.

To avoid being scammed via social media, please remember the Florida Lottery will NEVER:

• Send a user a "friend request" via Facebook.
• Send a user a "message" via social networking sites; unless the user has participated in a contest or the user sent a message/question first.
• Ask for contact information beyond what an entrant has already provided while entering a legitimate Florida Lottery giveaway or contest.
• Ask for bank account information via social networking sites in ANY case.

Please report any suspected scams to the Florida Lottery's Division of Security at (850) 487-7730.

• Sign your ticket! You should always sign the back of your Lottery ticket as soon as you purchase it. This will help prevent someone else from trying to cash it in the event your Florida Lottery ticket becomes lost or stolen, or if someone tries to scratch out, white out or change your signature. You should always sign the back of your Lottery ticket as soon as you purchase it. This will help prevent someone else from claiming a prize on your Florida Lottery ticket if it is lost or stolen, or if someone tries to scratch out, white out or change your signature.
• Always check your playslip before purchase to make sure it is the game, number selections and drawing(s) you want to enter. After receiving your ticket, check your ticket for accuracy before leaving the store.
• Always check your Scratch-Off tickets before purchase to be sure the scratch-off coating has not been scratched off on any part of the ticket.
• Check your own ticket to see if it's a winner. In addition to watching the drawings, you can find the winning numbers here:
  1. www.floridalottery.com
  2. Winning numbers hotline (850) 921-PLAY
  3. Daily Florida Lottery email or text message alerts
  4. Florida Lottery smartphone app
     • Apple users: Download on the App Store
     • Android users: Get it on Google Play
  5. A terminal printout of the winning numbers (available at all retailers)
• If available, check your own Draw or Scratch-Off ticket using the Express Check scanner.
• Don't ask a retailer to tell you if your ticket is a winner, ask them to show you.
  • Florida Lottery terminals will play a winning sound when a winning Draw game or Scratch-Off ticket is scanned. As your ticket is being scanned, listen for the winning sound indicating the ticket is a winner.
• Watch the monitor while your ticket is being validated. If the monitor is not facing you, ask the retailer to see it.
• If you disagree with a retailer about your ticket, ask for the ticket back. You can then check your ticket at another retailer, a Florida Lottery district office or Headquarters. If the retailer refuses to return your ticket, contact the Florida Lottery's Division of Security.
• Always purchase tickets from authorized Florida Lottery retailers. You can find them here: https://floridalottery.com/where-to-play.
• Never agree to help someone cash a Lottery ticket. If you do, you are more likely to become the victim of a scam or unauthorized transaction. If you are asked for help cashing a ticket, contact the Florida Lottery's Division of Security and your local police immediately.
• If you have questions, or need assistance to determine if your ticket is a winner or the prize amount won, contact Florida Lottery Customer Service during regular business hours at (850) 487-7787 or email Ask@flalottery.com.