Savvy Swindlers Turn To State Lotteries
Posted by Michelle Moquin on September 7th, 2011
Good morning!
These days many people turn to lotteries in HOPEs to win it big. And the scammers are hoping you will. Don’t be fooled. Read on…
A ‘Lotto’ Concerns
You didn’t really win that state lottery you never entered
Phony lotteries continue to be a jackpot for scammers, ranking as the eighth most prevalent type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission — some 42,000 complaints in 2009. Many of the cons claim you’ve won faraway contests such as the Irish National Lottery.
Beware of false claims that you’ve won a lottery. — Photo by: Nicholas Eveleigh/Getty ImagesBut savvy swindlers have turned their attention to state lotteries. You get a bogus notification that you’ve won one. It’s all part of a trick to part you with your money or personal information.
The latest variation, discovered in late August, was an e-mail claiming recipients had struck it rich with the Delaware Lottery through a “computer ballot system.” It followed similar sham notifications concerning state lotteries in South Dakota, Colorado, New York, Minnesota and elsewhere.
Congratulations are not in order
No matter what the impersonated state, the ploy is the same: By e-mail, phone call or letter, you get a notice of congratulations promising a big payoff, complete with instructions to contact a named “claims agent” for more information. E-mails and letters can look legit because they usually have an exact replica of the lottery logo or state seal. Some list the actual address of the state lottery commission.
If you call that so-called claims agent — usually via a toll-free number that may connect to somewhere outside the United States — you are prompted to “verify” your identity by revealing personal info such as yourSocial Security or bank account number. Or you’re told you need to pay fees to cover taxes, insurance or other costs before receiving your prize.
If the con arrives by letter, it usually contains a check described as partial payment, with instructions that you should deposit it and use a portion to forward the fees, typically several thousand dollars.
Why the crooks win
Either way, the prize goes to the crooks: Revealing sensitive information opens the door to identity theft. And when the deposited check proves to be counterfeit, which can take a week or longer for your bank to discover, you are responsible for any money you withdrew and sent to the scammers.
With continued belt-tightening, people can expect this con to continue. “As consumers struggle with hard times caused by the economic downturn, they may be even more tempted to respond to false announcements they receive informing them that they have won a lottery,” said New York Gov. David A. Paterson. His statement was prompted by reports that New Yorkers were being bombarded with telephone, fax, e-mail and mobile text messages about phony lottery winnings.
Here’s what you need to know about state lottery scams:
- If you didn’t buy a lottery ticket from an authorized vendor, you didn’t win, plain and simple.
- No legitimate lottery will ever contact you with news of a win; it’s your responsibility to step forward with the winning ticket in hand.
- You never have to pay upfront fees of any kind to claim a legitimate state lottery payout.
- Never believe claims of a guaranteed prize. Legitimate lotteries make no guarantees of winning.
- Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you offering to sell what’s described as a winning lottery ticket. Often the excuse is that the person is in this country illegally and doesn’t dare redeem it personally. It’s all a lie, of course. This ruse is especially common in Florida and has claimed many older victims.
- Check winning numbers with your state lottery website or through media reports.
- Be alert to shady retailers who pilfer winning tickets brought in for redemption. They scan the ticket, claim you didn’t win (or got just a small amount) and then pocket the ticket. You can protect against this by immediately signing your name to the ticket when you buy it, meaning the retailer can’t sign it.
- If you have the good luck to hold a ticket with a big payout, don’t go to the retailer — notify the state lottery office.
- If you wonder about a lottery notification, go to the website of the nonprofit group Fraud Aid to check its list of known phony lottery games. New ones are always emerging, but if your alleged jackpot is from one on the list, you can be sure it’s a scam. Report suspicious winning notifications to your state lottery office and attorney general.
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Forewarned is forearmed – Blog me.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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September 7th, 2011 at 9:39 am
Doug, I took the paragraph in which you made your claim about why we should come together to take back what the 1% of families have taken from the rest of us and changed a few words so you can see that we women of Egypt have heard similar speeches from out men.
Here is that paragraph as you wrote it.
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My point is simple, and yet so complex because most people don’t want to truly understand, or rather, cannot fathom how the world really works. The 1%, only a handful of families, run the world. The Rothschilds, the Astors, The Kennedy’s, and a few others. All else only think they are part of any decisions that take place on the planet. I would think through the comments of Anonz, herein over the years, people would begin to understand this as well. It is clear that people don’t want to or cannot seem to really grasp it. He has been quite clear. All politicians are simply puppets who know how to work the system. The system will not change if you don’t get this. Don’t get me wrong, if you need a new stop sign in your neighborhood, your local politics and your vote help make that happen, but if you are looking at changing the race issues in America, this is a financial issue, period. When ALL people wake to the “conspiracy theory” to which I refer, then as a mass collective, something may get accomplished. Some evidence to this theory in Wisconsin and the labor issues there. Is this a race discussion? No, it is about money.
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Now here is that same paragraph as it would be written by our arab men urging us Egyptian women to support them in their efforts to overthrow Mubarak. I capitalized the changes I made to your speech Doug.
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My point is simple, and yet so complex because most people don’t want to truly understand, or rather, cannot fathom how the EGYPT really works. The 1%, only a handful of families, run the MUBARAKS. , the SAWIRIS’S, the GABRS’S, and a few others. All else only think they are part of any decisions that take place IN EGYPT. I would think through the comments of Anonz, herein over the years, people would begin to understand this as well. It is clear that people don’t want to or cannot seem to really grasp it. He has been quite clear. All politicians are simply puppets who know how to work the system. The system will not change if you don’t get this. Don’t get me wrong, if you need a new stop sign in your neighborhood, your local politics and your vote help make that happen, but if you are looking at changing the SEX DISCRIMINATION issues in EGYPT, this is a financial issue, period. When ALL EGYPTIANS wake to the “conspiracy theory” to which I refer, then as a mass collective, something may get accomplished. Some evidence to this theory in CAIRO and the labor issues there. Is this a SEX DISCRIMINATION discussion? No, it is about money.
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Now I ask you how is it different? From your point of view your issues are more important. From our men’s point of view their issues are more important.
From Robert’s point of view Equality is more important. From the women of Egypt sex discrimination is more important.
The reason you and the men of Egypt don’t see it that way is because they are not problems for you.
The reason Robert and the women of Egypt can’t see it your or the men of Egypt’s way is because what does it matter who the new power brokers will be if we do not have equality.
Your presentation is even more dishonest than the one presented by our men. At least they don’t pretend that we will be their equals if we help them overthrow Muburak and his regime.
You make it seem that once the power of your conspiring families have been broken, all will be well.
Doug, people have immediate needs that take priority over your aspirations. I told my boy friend that we can not even let people know that we are boy and girl friend without me risking being stoned to death.
Why would I risk my life to help him change things for his betterment when I need something just as important changed for me to have a life comparable to what he is living today?
Doug, if you can not reach into a deeper bag of empathy, then imagine yourself sitting on trial for something you have been framed for and someone comes along as tells you to forget about planning a defense to keep you from going to jail, he has a more important issue for you that is to save the world from domination by a few super rich and powerful families.
Do you think you might tell the gentleman that you would be glad to help him with his cause, but could he first help you defend the frame you are facing.
If he then told you that if you helped him first, you could save the world before your trial date and then he would help you. He goes on to say you would be helped easier with your case because somehow your issue involved his.
Would that convince you to drop the planning of your defense to help him? I suspect he would have to be one very good salesman to convince you to risk going to jail to save his view of the world.
This is what you are asking women and OTWs to do. We are being asked to forget about our immediate life impacting problems and focus on what you think is the greater problem.
Robert’s point seems to be that the greater problem is going to jail for a crime one did not commit.
The women of Egypt feel that the bigger problem is not whether our men get to break the hold over their lives some dictator has, it is the dictatorial power every man have over our lives.
What seems to be lost on you is that Robert thinks that the dictatorial power whites exercise over women and OTWs in your country is more important to them than the dictatorial power those families hold over you.
I have no idea what Zen Lill’s argument is. Unless she believes like some women in Egypt that men should have that power over us.
I am certain that there are many US women that would agree with you that who holds the power over the world is more important that who holds, right now, the power over how they exist from day to day.
I suspect that like me, and a great many women of Egypt, many american women feel that they need to see progress in their immediate lives before they join you in your quest.
Farah
September 7th, 2011 at 9:59 am
HI Mischa, this is timely, my kid insists that lotteries are all scams, including the super and mega lottery : )
As to yesterday’s points, my response, please refer to Doug main dudes response bc I will make same or similar claims, never said race/sex wasn’t an issue, I believe as main dude does that power elites run it based on money/greed not race only and neither of us white peeps are part of that club that Anonz clearly belongs to…and to the Sofia’s/Jesus’s of this blog, nothing anyone says or does throws me off my personal game so your whole clueless/sp claims made me smile bc it couldn’t be further form the truth, (actually, sweetheart, your jealousy is touching) and to the MaryAnn’s of this blog, thank you for the support, it’s a tough crowd here sometimes. Just one more word: if Michelle ‘gets it’ and I don’t…and she’s married to someone else who doesn’t ‘get it’ (your way) then hmmm, what’s this 4 years been about for her I wonder…
PS. I run into this white tall blond amazon bs all the time and really I am touched by the amount of energy people will waste giving me attention first simply based on that. Do you really think I don’t see it??? I see it when I am with my commadres’ back east who look ethnic, I get deferred to/addressed/helped first and they just look over and raise an eyebrow or say it ‘must be nice’…whatever…it is what it is…some women even waste their time and energy attempting to be me in some way instead of improving themselves and standing tall on their own merit and self esteem, giving me yak about being for other women and then vying for training classes in being me or doing whatever they can to have what I have, my male companions included bc I only pick the finest…f**k – it’s annoying.
OH – and men will often say, ‘wow and you have a brain, too’…meaning ‘some’ women, I won’t say what ethnic group, pick one, are relying on their looks/bodies or whatever to attract males, so what does that say about how women are faring out there in speaking their mind or being the change they want to see? Yeah, not much, at least I walk my freaking talk…and women want to imitate it and men want to listen (and probably do me) bc Im not fucking irrational in my arguments/claims (just very matter of fact about how women/OTW’s are treated, and how men are/can be, etc..yep, I speak it right out loud because everything begins with a thought and verbalizing can bring awareness, society and family reinforces a lot of how men/women treat each other no matter the color, take a look at advertising to your kids for example) and I know the deal (not how it ought to be, but how it is), it isn’t about dems/rethugs/Obama/race, it’s about the rabbit hole of the elites, believe it or don’t, your choice….
Caio, (tough) Luv, Zen Lill
September 7th, 2011 at 10:13 am
Farah, I stand corrected and will demure in commenting for the time being, I obviously have no idea how the woen of Egypt would perceive power elite information. Not sure of Doug’s argument but I will tell you that unless and until the power elite can be made to change (hmm…) then things will remain the same, the power elite won’t even give equality to white men of lesser financial power, though they certainly fare better to be sure. Elites sure aren’t going to share it with anyone else they perceive inferior in any way…it’s a long fight, and one I hope my daughters generation will benefit from. Good luck to you and your BF, be careful…ZL
September 7th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Can a smartphone help you take a stand against slavery and slave labor?
Many apps exist to help you do just that, including the Trafficking in Persons Awareness app and an app by the same name of the film it’s associated with, “Call + Response.”
Free2Work is an app that lets you look at major brands as you shop to check what they’re doing to tackle the problem. Free2Work was created by the Not For Sale Campaign. Its goal is to use technology to mobilize activists and fight slavery.
David Batstone, the campaign’s co-founder and president, talked to CNN’s Richard Quest about the app and the role of technology:
“[Technology] can do a lot of things. One is when [consumers] shop, whether it’s in a large department store or whether they are out at the grocery store, that they’re able to take their smartphone, through Free2Work, our app, and they’re able to look at the products.
And what’s the story behind those products? How are they made? Where were they made? How were people treated? Were they actually free to work? You see, none of us want to wear people’s tragedy. We don’t want to consume their suffering where we have coffee with sugar poured in it. We want to make sure that people’s lives are enhanced.
And this tool enables you to buy in such a way that you know you’re enhancing the lives of the people who made those products.”
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There’s some pretty good information on the major companies covered in the App Free2Work, which I have installed. The app covers food, apparel, electronics, toys, etc.
ps. always Buy American; boycott anything made in China. Personally, I also boycott stores (like Target) whose political contributions I disfavor.
/SB
September 7th, 2011 at 11:01 am
Zen Lill;
I am not presuming to speak for Michelle. But since you asked. My thoughts on the matter is that she understands that there are plenty clueless people out there. That must have been the original purpose of her blog to give some of you a clue or two.
Unfortunately, many will never get a clue. I used to think Howie belonged to that group. But how he as matured into a sensitive, caring and empathetic individual.
You have remained the clueless, self-centered, thinking she is all that, embarrassment to my race, you were since you thought you had an opinion worth ink.
Unlike you Michelle isn’t interested in what this 4 years has been like for her, she’s in it for others. As long as it’s been of benefit to others, she will be happy.
You wouldn’t understand that.
Debby
September 7th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Zen Lill, I am from Brazil. We are the beautiful tall girls called Amazons. You are but a short wanna be american. Come to my country and see what a beautiful woman looks like.
Bring a brain, if you want to talk politics, better yet borrow one.
Bianca
September 7th, 2011 at 11:12 am
I don’t think Michelle has any problems handling two clueless people.
September 7th, 2011 at 11:14 am
See, Social Butterfly has the idea. Real ideas that help people help people.
Thanks
Helen
September 7th, 2011 at 11:19 am
Zen Lill, I’m Zulu, we average 6 feet here. You would be a midget. Get a clue. I am 6 feet three and three quarters. In a country of tiny women, you may be considered tall, but to us you are just another tiny woman.
I don’t think that America thinks that you represent their idea of a blond Amazon. I do think you do.
Nyota
September 7th, 2011 at 11:23 am
I’m with you Zen Lill. I get hit on all the time by men who think because I am a tall blond that I am stupid. Like you I surprise them.
Love your writes.
Ellen
September 7th, 2011 at 11:26 am
finally someone with sense talking on this blog. Thanks SB. I will take you up on that.
Mark
September 7th, 2011 at 11:27 am
In my opinion niggers are always bitching about one think or another. If it’s not their welfare check arriving late it is something else.
John
September 7th, 2011 at 11:48 am
Love this place and I know exactly what Mischa gets here and I never said I was beautiful now did I? NO I said I ‘hear’ that white-tall-amazon bs – I said I get deferred to – so whoever thinks I’m ‘all that’, hahaha…yeah, no Im not in my mind, but apparently there is the rest of the circle I speak of that awards me that, reread before you jump.
I am often misquoted here, given a nod to cluelessness and a whole bunch of other things. I don’t need to travel to Brazil or anywhere else to discuss politics or my freaking height, you’ve missed the damn point – again. I will just hang in until next discussion bc this one is a done for one with me. I can win or even get a say without bs bc I am white, etc…, as I said yesterday to Robert, so be it, I can handle the heat. Have at it, bc I do love you all anyway, Zen Lill
September 7th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Research illuminati, 13 families and UN/The temple of understanding/logan act-mind control, trilateral commission, bilderbergs…go down the rabbit hole yourselves for a minute, if you need more words to google I’ll give them to you though I’d recommend following the more obscure links within any research you do. I would give you the easy route and hand out a name or two to research but why should I, after all it’s only about race/gender, right?
The rabbit hole awaits you…and before you dismiss illuminati/elite families, I’d think again…I’m only giving you this much bc I never back down and if you think calling me clueless/sp or anything else will make me not share with you, you are very wrong. I didn’t like what I found in the rabbit hole, I’d venture that Doug main dude found similar harsh info that you will if you’re diligent. It takes much time, energy to keep clicking through and reading and finding ways to cross reference but it’s worth it, it’s also tiring on the pysche bc you won’t believe the great lengths powerful people will go to to cover their tracks, and right out in the open for you to see, too.
Don’t say I never gave you anything bc there it is, do with it what you will.
- ZL
September 7th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Robert #3 Yesterday:
I must agree with your point of view over Doug’s because as you commented yesterday, one needs to be more exposed to what Women and OTWs have to experience just to exist on a day to day basis before a White man will be in a position to help the situation the world is in.
I see through the curtain — the day to day struggle to just survive in this world that the white race has forced Women and OTW’s to live in.
Until one has actually walked in the shoes of an OTW or Woman, they can not talk the talk.
The Women of Egypt do not see it Doug’s way because what does it matter who the new power will be if Women do not gain equality in Egypt. Their lives will not change. They will continue to be abused by their men.
Why would Middle East Women risk their lives to help change things for their Men’s betterment when they need something just as important changed to have a life comparable to what Men are living right now? That is complete equality.
HOWIE
September 7th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Howie, I am ashamed by not having the courage to use my name. But I had to write to say thank you for your support.
I am not from Egypt but I am from a Middle East country. You have the heart I wish was in the chest of even a few muslim men.
You are a proud son of both our peoples. Perhaps with men like you there will yet be peace in the Middle East.
September 7th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
The most beautiful woman i the world is out there and I am here alone, wishing she were here with me.
I love you my sweet.
Ym
September 8th, 2011 at 6:47 am
Zen Lill, you have the time to research. I commend you for trying to make the world better. But this latina only has time to find work cause she has 3 hungry little boys to feed and to keep from joining some gang or another.
Their father will take any job he can get, but getting hired when you are a latino in this town is so damn hard.
Maria
September 8th, 2011 at 7:31 am
Social Butterfly:
I can tell you an even simpler way to help the American economy and not even have to use technology. You mentioned it in your comment.
“Buy American.”
However, when it comes to automobile sales, Americans seem to favor foreign cars and ignore the American Economy. What is wrong with General Motors, or Ford? When one purchases a domestic auto, they are helping to feed American auto workers and their families.
It seems traitorous to buy anything else, especially during bad economic times.
HOWIE
September 8th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Maria, I hear you and then some…my conditions are such that I can work some and research some and finding time to keep kids out of trouble is a high priority, though I only have one. I wish you the best on keeping your kids out of trouble and your hubby good luck on finding any kind of work, the prospects are dim out there and I see it and try to aid as best I can. I’ve got a tutor living with me, I hear all the parents stories and some have got grim circumstances and I commend them on not giving up on their kids education. I also know a few who have foreclosed, have no credit, looking for places to live and all I can tell you is my kid keeps me fro taking them (and their dogs) all in and converting my garage into a shelter. I keep sending out my gratitude vibe and wishing for change for everyone for the better. And women of the world the most bc Maria, we bring the babies into the world and without us males would lose their minds and kill everyone off, it never ceases to amaze me that we would not be held in reverence bc of our obvious power and yet, it’s quite the opposite.
Luv, Zen LIll