December 06, 2023

Avoid Lottery Scams This Holiday Season

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) wants to remind players to stay alert while playing lottery games. Fraud accounts and scammers never take a break, especially during the holiday season.

A person cannot win a lottery jackpot if they do not purchase a ticket. Be suspicious if someone says you have won a lottery prize on a game you have never played. 

“Lottery scams are common but can be a little heightened during this time of year because that’s when people are more active with shopping and checking their emails for deals,” said ASL Executive Director Eric Hagler. 

“They can receive a phone call, email, text and even social media messages that seemingly appear true. Do not be fooled. Stay aware and play responsibly,” he said. 

Hagler added the only time lottery representatives might contact players is to notify them that they have won a Second-Chance Promotion or a Play It Again® drawing through The Club. 

“If players who joined The Club are skeptical when notified, we encourage them to call the lottery to confirm,” he said. “A legitimate lottery official never asks winners to pay taxes upfront. Any required federal and state taxes are paid before the lottery releases the money to the winner.”

Lotteries of foreign countries are illegal in the United States. If you have been contacted by a lottery claiming to be affiliated with the government of another country, it is a scam. 

If you think you have been a victim of fraud or attempted fraud by someone posing as a representative of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, please report it to the Arkansas Lottery Security hotline at 1-888-606-6292 and the Arkansas Attorney General’s office at 1-800-482-8982.

About the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery
More than 92 cents of every dollar of ASL revenue goes to prizes, scholarships, retailer commissions, and other expenses in Arkansas. Since 2009, the lottery has raised more than $1.3 billion in proceeds for scholarships. More than 720,000 college scholarships have been awarded to Arkansans. The lottery has awarded more than $4.7 billion in prizes to players, about $398 million in retailer commissions, and provided more than $172 million in state and federal tax revenue.

Follow the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Visit MyArkansasLottery.com for more information on scholarships, winners, games, odds, promotions – and to join The Club for free. To hear winning numbers, call the Winning Numbers Hotline at 501-682-IWON (4966). To get help with problem gambling, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.