 The e-mails are unauthorized and are part of a "phishing" scam
designed to defraud money or gain personal information from
consumers.A copy of the e-mail message, obtained by Mega
Millions, includes the following language:
"Congratulation!
Our database showed your E-mail address was one of the selected
jackpot winners of the sum of $520,000.00. Please complete the
details below to file your claim and email to our fiduciary agent to
process your payment immediately."
This message also lists an e-mail address for a "United Kingdom
Fiduciary Agent" and photos of actual Mega Millions winners, which
may have been pulled from the Mega Millions website.
If you receive this or a similar message, do not respond. It is a
scam, likely designed to get personal and financial information from
unsuspecting victims.
The only way to win a Mega Millions prize is with a valid Mega
Millions ticket. Winners are not selected by e-mail address, nor are
they contacted that way. Furthermore, there is no "fiduciary agent"
and no Mega Millions agent of any sort in the United Kingdom.
"These messages contain false and misleading information, and we
don't want to see the public fall victim to these criminals," said
Jodie Winnett, acting superintendent of the Illinois Lottery.
"Players should always be wary of any unsolicited communications
they receive from the Illinois Lottery. Con artists are vigilant in
trying to get something for nothing, and we want our players to be
just as vigilant in protecting themselves."
For more scam information, visit the "Protect Yourself" section
of the Illinois Lottery website at the following link:
http://illinoislottery.com/
subsections/Securityaware.htm.
Anyone with questions about Illinois Lottery games and rules
should contact the Lottery Player Hotline at 1-800-252-1775, or
visit the official website at
http://www.illinoislottery.com/.
Other helpful tips for protecting yourself against scammers are
below:
-
If something
sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You cannot win a
lottery for which you did not buy tickets. If you receive a
"winner" notice for a drawing you never entered, be suspicious.
-
Never give money
or valuables to a stranger to redeem a lottery prize. "Good
faith" money or banking information is never required by the
Illinois Lottery to claim a prize.
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-
Never accept a
collect call from anyone claiming to be a lottery official.
-
Never reveal your
credit card or bank information to anyone unless you are certain
the contact is legitimate and from a reputable company with whom
you have a long-term relationship. The Illinois Lottery only
requires credit card information when you contact them directly
to purchase or renew a Mega Millions, Lotto or Little Lotto
subscription.
-
If you receive a
telephone call from a direct marketer who promises instant
lottery prizes, hang up. No lotteries in the U.S., including the
Illinois Lottery, conduct business in that matter.
-
Report suspicious "lottery" material to
the Federal Trade Commission at
www.ftc.gov or call 1-800-FTC-HELP. You can also contact the
Illinois Lottery at
www.illinoislottery.com or at 800-252-1775.
About Mega Millions:
Mega Millions is, hands-down, the biggest jackpot game in the
country. With more people playing than any other multistate game in
the U.S., jackpots roll to higher levels at a faster rate. Mega
Millions tickets are sold in California, Georgia, Illinois,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Texas, Virginia and Washington.
About Illinois Lottery:
Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery is a state agency with
annual sales over $2 billion. Since its inception, the lottery has
contributed more than $14 billion to the state Common School Fund to
assist K-12 public schools. Players must be at least 18 years old.
For more information on the Illinois Lottery, visit
www.illinoislottery.com.
[Text from
Illinois Lottery file]
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