Phony lottery or sweepstakes prize notifications are among the most successful scams.  Scam operators use the telephone and direct mail to entice unsuspecting victims.  These lottery offers violate U.S. law, which prohibits the international sale or purchase of lottery tickets by phone or mail.  Protect yourself against phony lottery scams by:

1. Do not fall trap to notices that you have won.  These enticements are always accompanied by a request for money up-front.

2. Do not deposit checks from unknown sources even if the check purports to be a certified check.  These checks are often fraudulent.

3. Keep your credit card and bank account numbers to yourself. Scam artists will try to get this information from you.

4. Do not send money! It is virtually impossible to track these international thieves.

5. Do not respond to notices if you did not enter to win!

Foreign Lottery: Don't Do It!

Lottery and sweepstakes fraud cost Americans millions every year. 

Money transfers can be useful when you want to send funds to someone you know and trust - but they are incredibly risky when you are dealing with a stranger.

Visit Federal Trade Commission's website to learn more about sweepstakes scams.

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Solution to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft