Scammers are getting creative, but there are simple ways to tell what’s real and what’s not

Olympia, Wash. (November 4, 2025) – As Fraud Awareness Week (November 16-22) approaches, Washington’s Lottery is reminding players to stay alert against people trying to commit lottery scams, which have become increasingly more common across the country. These schemes often involve individuals falsely claiming players have won large prizes, posing as lottery officials, or pretending to be lottery winners who want to give away their prize to others.

Scammers use every communication channel they can – emails, text messages, letters, and phone calls – to convince people to share sensitive personal information or send money. It’s crucial for players to remember that Washington’s Lottery will never ask for payment to claim a prize or ask for personal banking information or details like a Social Security Number over the phone. Personal information is only verified on official prize claim forms at Washington’s Lottery offices.

“We never want the excitement of playing the lottery to be overshadowed by fraud,” said Joshua Johnston, Director of Washington’s Lottery. “If someone contacts you claiming you’ve won but asks for money or personal financial information, it’s a scam. The best thing you can do is hang up, delete the message and report it.”

What You Should Know:

• Washington’s Lottery does not sell tickets online. Tickets are only available for purchase in-person through authorized retailers.
• You must purchase a ticket or enter a drawing to be eligible to win. Any claim that you have won without doing so is likely a scam.
• The only time Washington’s Lottery may contact you directly about the fact that you have won a prize is if you have entered and won a second chance drawing or other promotional event drawing. Even then, Lottery representatives will never ask for your financial information.
• If you have claimed your lottery prize at a Regional Office and expressed interest in sharing your story, a representative of Washington’s Lottery may contact you asking details about your win but will never ask for information about your finances.
• If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from Washington’s Lottery, Mega Millions or Powerball asking for payment or financial information, do not click on any links or provide any personal information. Contact Washington’s Lottery directly at (360) 810-2888 for assistance.

Common Lottery Scams:

• Email Scams: Scammers send fake emails with official-looking logos, urging you to click links or provide personal information.
• Telephone Scams: Fraudsters posing as lottery representatives call or text claiming you have won a prize but ask for processing fees or personal details.
• Social Media Scams: Scammers create fake social media profiles posing as recent lottery winners to gain your trust and trick you into sharing personal information.
• Letter Scams: Fraudulent letters with official-looking logos are sent out saying you have won a prize and need to provide personal information or payment in order to claim it.
• Foreign Lottery Scams: Criminals claim you have won a lottery prize from another country, which is illegal to participate in from the U.S.

If you think you have been targeted by a lottery scam, report the incident to local authorities immediately and contact Washington’s Lottery for assistance. For more information on identifying scams, visit walottery.com/Responsibility/ExamplesOfScams or contact Washington’s Lottery at (360) 810-2888.

Who Benefits
Since 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated more than $5.3 billion to support several important state programs. The Lottery’s primary beneficiary is the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account (WOPA), which provides much-needed funding for programs including early childhood education, the Washington College Grant and College Bound program, Washington Award for Vocational Excellence, GET Ready for Math and Science scholarships, and more. These programs help provide critical services and support to thousands of Washington residents each year and help improve their lives.

Beneficiary Fact
Washington’s Lottery is proud to be a financial supporter of the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), which administers state financial aid programs. WSAC leads a variety of initiatives to increase educational opportunities for students, families, and educators across the state, with a particular focus on increasing equity by reaching communities of color and students from low-income families. The Lottery also proudly supports the state’s Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP), a state-funded pre-K program that helps children become kindergarten-ready by building early skills in reading, math and science. The program works closely with parents to support their children’s health and education.

About Washington’s Lottery: The state’s Lottery offers consumers several types of games, including Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto, Hit 5, Match 4, Pick 3, Cash POP, Daily Keno and Scratch. For more information, visit www.walottery.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @walottery.

Keep it fun. Know your limit. Washington’s Lottery is an advocate for responsible gaming and collaborates with the Evergreen Council for Problem Gambling to provide resources for those in need. More information is available at www.walottery.com/Responsibility.

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Press Contacts
Dan Miller (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
E-mail: dan.miller@curatorpr.com

Xiamara Garza-Urbieta  (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
E-mail: xiamara.garza@curatorpr.com