News Release

Always be wary of lottery scams

Some Minnesota residents have received letters from scammers telling them that they won money in a lottery drawing. Sometimes a phony check is enclosed with the letter. The letter directs the recipient to send money up front to receive the rest of their prize.

The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and Federal Trade Commission Web sites warn of similar scams which involve phony checks. In those scams, the victim deposits the phony check (their bank may even temporarily credit their account for that amount). When the victim sends the requested money, the phony check bounces.

“The Minnesota State Lottery is in no way associated with any of these scams,” said Lottery Executive Director Clint Harris. “The Minnesota State Lottery never requires any taxes or fees to be paid before receiving a prize. If required, state and federal withholding will be deducted from the prize itself.”

The Minnesota State Lottery offers the following advice:

• Buy lottery tickets only from authorized Minnesota State Lottery retailers.

• Never give anyone money or bank account information before collecting a lottery prize.

• The Minnesota State Lottery does not require any payment before collecting a prize.

• Never send money or personal information by e-mail, the phone, wire transfer or any other means to anyone in an effort to collect promised “winnings.”

• Never give your credit card number or bank account information over the phone to anyone claiming you won a prize or attempting to sell you a lottery ticket or membership in a lottery pool.

• Never send a check or wire money to an unfamiliar business.

• Beware of phone calls or letters from somebody telling you you’ve won a prize in a foreign lottery or that you owe additional taxes after you have claimed a lottery prize.

• It is illegal to play a lottery by phone or mail.

• Players should direct tax questions to the Minnesota Department of Revenue at (612) 296-3781 or to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at (800) 829-1040.  

Players who receive a foreign lottery offer in the mail should cross off their name and address and write “Forward to Postal Inspector” on the envelope. The envelope should be given to the postal carrier or put in a mail box (no postage is necessary).

For more information or to file a complaint about a lottery scam, contact: the Federal Trade Commission at (877) FTC-HELP or the Minnesota Attorney General at (651) 296-3353, (800) 657-3787.

Lottery players must be 18 years of age or older. Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know needs help with a gambling problem, call (800) 333-HOPE.

For winning numbers, call our 24-hour winning numbers hotline 651-634-1111 or check the home page of this website.

This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling (651) 635-8273. TTY users should dial (651) 635-8268 or (800) 657-3833.