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The New York State Gaming Commission is warning lottery players about an impostor scam tied to Mega Millions, saying callers are falsely claiming victims have won a major prize and must pay fees before receiving it.
According to the commission, the scam involves someone posing as a high-ranking Mega Millions official. Victims are told they have won $18.6 million and two new Mercedes-Benz vehicles, but must first send money for taxes and processing fees. Some complaints say the caller also threatens that the prize and vehicles will be forfeited unless payment is made immediately.
The state’s message to players is straightforward: legitimate lotteries do not contact winners to tell them they have won, and they do not require upfront payment to release a prize.
> “The New York State Gaming Commission reminds players: Real lotteries don’t reach out to winners.”
The New York Lottery also said it does not know who has won a prize until the winning ticket is presented for payment. For players, that means an unsolicited call, especially one demanding money right away, should be treated as a red flag.
The warning comes as interest in multistate lottery games is rising again. The article cites 34 Powerball drawings and 36 Mega Millions drawings without a jackpot winner. At the time of publication, the estimated jackpots stood at $567 million for Powerball and $743 million for Mega Millions, with cash options of $251.8 million and $323.4 million, respectively.
New York State Gaming Commission Chairman Brian O’Dwyer said, “Jackpot fever is back, and New Yorkers have two incredible opportunities to imagine the possibilities this week.”
For New York players, the practical takeaway is simple: if someone says you won a lottery prize but asks for taxes, fees, or immediate payment first, it is not a legitimate lottery claim. Players should rely on official New York Lottery channels for prize information and claiming procedures.
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Source: As reported by casino.org.
