Our customer service team has received reports of scammers presenting themselves as the N.C. Education Lottery in e-mail messages.
In at least one case, the message claimed to be part of a "promotional program to encourage the use of LinkedIn and Internet Programs" and that the e-mail recipient has won "US$800,000.00."
Many of you have seen scam e-mails similar to this before and are familiar with the signs they are not legitimate. Here are some tips from the North Carolina Department of Justice on avoiding consumer scams:
• Never share your Social Security Number, bank account or credit card information with someone you don’t know who calls you or emails you.
• Never pay money upfront to get a loan or claim a lottery or sweepstakes prize.
• Don’t respond to letters or emails that ask you to help transfer money into your bank account or wire money out of the country.
If you participate in Lucke-Rewards or second-chance drawings, you are probably aware that the N.C. Education Lottery does notify many winners by e-mail that they have won a prize with claim instructions. But you are always welcome to call us to confirm. We want you to protect your privacy and avoid scammers.
By law, the lottery must withhold taxes on prizes of $600 or more. But no legitimate lottery prize ever requires you to pay money or provide private information before the formal claim process at a lottery office.
If you ever have an instinct something could be wrong – or, if it sounds too good to be true – please report it by calling our customer service team at 877-962-7529 or our security hotline at 888-732-6235.
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