Lottery Scams

The Vermont Lottery Commission wants to provide customers with the tools necessary to ensure the highest level of integrity and security continues among our agents and customers.  Vermont Lottery players can protect themselves from scams through some easy tips and advice.  Some of the common scams found nationwide are listed below:

Common Lottery Scam Scenarios:

• A person claims he/she is unable to redeem a winning ticket because he/she is in the country illegally, and offers to sell you the “winning” ticket.  A second person – posing as a stranger to the first person – walked by, and “confirms” that the ticket is “valid”.
• A person says the lottery is requiring cash up-front to redeem a winning ticket and offers to split the prize with you in exchange for “good faith” money.
• You receive an e-mail claiming to be from “Vermont Lottery Headquarters” saying you have won a prize and need to pay a “processing” fee.  You may be asked for bank account information and/or a social security number.
• You receive a letter with a foreign postmark and official-looking documents claiming you are one of the winners of a foreign lottery.  The letter states you must send the bank account information and/or pay a processing fee to claim a prize.

Tips to Protect Yourself:

• ALWAYS sign the back of your tickets.  This prevents another individual from cashing your ticket if it becomes lost or stolen.  Lottery tickets are bearer’s instruments, meaning the person who signs the back of the ticket owns the ticket.  If you have a winning ticket, and you don’t sign your ticket, ANYONE can sign your ticket, claim your ticket and receive payment.
• DO NOT alter a signature on any Lottey ticket.  Any alterations may invalidate all claims associated with the ticket.  If you have questions, please contact Lottery Security.
• For winning tickets, ask to see the receipt printed from the terminal.  Looking at this receipt will tell you for sure if you are a winner and confirm the amount of your winnings.  The agent must keep the cash receipt and ticket for winning tickets cashed at their location. Ask for the cash receipt for all non-winning tickets.  The receipt will allow you to double check that your ticket is a non-winner.
• Watch your transaction on the customer transaction display screen mounted near the counter.  This transaction screen will tell you details about your transaction. Each agent should have this transaction screen in plain view.
• Listen for the terminal tones.  When you are a winner, for prizes up to $500 it will say “Winner! Winner!”   For prizes $500 & up it will say “Winner! Winner! Winner! Winner! Claim at Lottery.”
• If you suspect an agent is not giving you your proper prize, please notify Lottery Security immediately and we can help you resolve the issue.
• If you purchase an Instant Scratch Game, prior to playing the game, check the surface of the ticket to make sure the latex has not been previously scratched anywhere on the ticket.  If the ticket appears to have been tampered with, do not play the ticket and contact Lottery Security immediately.
• NEVER agree to help a stranger cash a lottery ticket.
• Only purchase lottery tickets from authorized Lottery agents.  If you are approached by an individual offering a winning ticket for cash, refuse the offer.
• Vermont Lottery does not allow agents to charge a commission or fee for paying prizes.  If you are charged a commission or fee, please contact Lottery Security immediately.
• NEVER claim a prize for any lottery ticket for someone you don’t know.  If you are approached by a stranger asking for help cashing a ticket, contact Lottery Security immediately.
• NEVER respond to a phone call or e-mail from someone who offers you a guaranteed prize.  You are not guaranteed a prize by the Lottery, only a chance to win if you purchase a valid ticket.
• Be suspicious of telephone calls from someone who claims to be from the Lottery.  If you are in doubt, obtain the name of the individual and contact the Lottery for confirmation at (802) 479-5686 or 1-800-322-8800 (in Vermont).
• Unless you enter a second chance drawing or “promotional game” sponsored by the Lottery, you will never be contacted by us informing you that you have won.  If you receive a “winner” notice for a drawing you never entered or you are asked to send money to any person in order to claim your “prize,” this is likely a scam.