State Warns of Email Lottery Scam  

PIERRE, S.D.-   Attorney General Larry Long and Norman Lingle, Executive Director of the South Dakota Lottery are warning the public to be cautious of a new e-mail scam that has surfaced in South Dakota.

The e-mail, which gives the appearance of having been sent by the South Dakota State Lottery, informs the consumer that they are the lucky recipient of a $500,000 cash drawing from the “South Dakota Web Lottery” in a recent drawing. The e-mail asks people to immediately contact the South Dakota Lottery agent listed on the e-mail to expedite payment. While the message uses the Lottery’s street address, the sender and claim agent’s name and contact e-mail are not connected to the Lottery in any way. 

“Foreign lottery and sweepstakes scams are unfortunately common scams, but this is the first one we've seen that uses the South Dakota Lottery to lure victims," said state lottery director Norman Lingle.

Lingle notes that the scam operates completely opposite from the real South Dakota Lottery.  The Lottery never enters someone into a drawing or promotion without their knowledge; never requires a winner to pay money to claim a prize; and does not solicit personal information from winners by e-mail. "Most of all, you need to buy a ticket for a chance to win a real lottery prize, and you can only do that at licensed retailers in South Dakota," he said.

The South Dakota Lottery offers tips to guard against scams on their website at http://lottery.sd.gov/responsibly/scams/.

If you think you have been a victim of this scam contact the Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or consumerhelp@state.sd.us. If you need any additional information regarding legitimate lottery games contact the South Dakota Lottery at 1-605-773-5770. 

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