Idaho Lottery - Frauds and Scams

Criminals want to scam you out of your hard earned dollars. Learn the warning signs

Con artists, using bogus or altered Idaho Lottery tickets, try to scam their victims out of tens of thousands of dollars.

Each scam is unique but there are some common themes. The victims are usually elderly. And, there's almost always a sad story or a pressing reason for why the con artists need to cash their “winning” lottery ticket quickly.

An old saying still holds true, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Don't be a victim and don’t let anyone you know be a victim. When you hear one of these stories - get away, call the police, and give them a description. Help stop these criminals - before they rob again.

The Most Common Tricks - and the Truth exclamation icon

The Scam:	The Truth:
"This is a winning ticket, but I need money to claim it. If you help me with the upfront money I'll share the jackpot with you."	Once the ticket is bought, no money is EVER required to claim a prize.
"I can't cash my winning Lottery ticket because I'm not a U.S. citizen."	You don't have to be a U.S. citizen to claim a lottery prize.
"Let's call the Lottery. They'll tell us this is a winning ticket."	We NEVER confirm that a ticket is a winner over the phone. The person on the phone is just a part of the scam.
"We need to hurry! I need to get back to my family - It's an emergency!"	The thieves are trying to rush you so you don't have time to think or call a family member or friend for advice or help.
Fake Checks	The envelope arrives with instructions to deposit a check and wire cash to cover taxes and fees tied to big lottery winnings. The victim is out the money but is responsible for every cent spent. Banks and credit unions are actually suing the customers who deposit fraudulent checks and spend money that doesn’t exist.

Don’t be a Victim! Be ALERT!

Ask questions

Listen Carefully

Educate Yourself

Refuse to be pressured

Tell the authorities

If you feel you have been a victim of fraud, you should read the information and tips put out by the Federal Trade Commission about scams. Forward the suspicious e-mail to the Federal Trade Commission's address for unsolicited commercial e-mail at spam@uce.gov. Notify the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) of the FBI by filing a complaint on their website at: www.ic3.gov.

Trusted Sites:

There is no way to stop them without your help! Here's what you can do:

Never redeem a Lottery ticket for someone you do not know.
Never give your credit card numbers over the phone to anyone promising lottery cash prizes or memberships
Never respond to a letter or phone call from someone who offers you a guarantee of winning a prize. The Idaho Lottery does not guarantee you a prize.
If you are going to participate in a "lottery pool" do so only with people you know and trust.
Buy Lottery tickets only from authorized Idaho Lottery retailers
Never purchase tickets from foreign lotteries by phone, mail or the Internet. The sale and trafficking in foreign lottery tickets is a violation of federal criminal law.
Never pay processing fees, insurance, or commissions to claim a lottery prize. Legitimate lotteries do not require winners to pay anything up front to receive a prize.
Never deposit a check mailed to you from a foreign lottery or unverified source asking for money to be wire transferred.
Never respond to “award notifications” or other notices regarding lotteries that you do not recall entering.
Never send money. There is virtually no way to get your money back.
Never be fooled by a phone call. Just because you’ve spoken to the scammer over the phone, it doesn’t mean they’re not trying to rip you off.

All profits generated by the Idaho Lottery benefit education in our state. The Lottery also provides fun, excitement and prizes for players. Don't allow these scam artists to take your money and spoil your fun.

Idaho Lottery Security, Enforcement Division

PO Box 6537, Boise, ID 83707-6537 (208) 334-2277

winner claim form: Download

Sign the back of your ticket prior to presenting for payment.

Email us! If you have questions about this website, Idaho Lottery games, or Lottery Issues, email: info@idaholottery.com or use our web-based Enquiry form.

Must be at least 18 to buy, sell or redeem Lottery tickets. Benefiting Idaho Public Schools and the Permanent Building Fund. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY.