Tennesseans Warned About Foreign Lottery Scams

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Tennesseans are being warned to be aware of foreign lottery scams.

The state Department of Commerce and Insurance wants residents to be on the lookout for notifications by telephone, email, direct mail or otherwise, which may claim that the person has won a foreign lottery, but is really after the person's money or personal information.

In a release, the department said individuals may be targeted by being told that they've won, and in order to receive the winnings, they must send money or reply with their personal information.

The department offered the following tips to avoid falling victim to such scams:

• If you didn’t enter the contest or lottery, it’s most likely a scam.

• Legitimate sweepstakes don’t require you to pay or buy anything to improve your chances of winning.

• Sponsors of legitimate contests identify themselves prominently.

• Disreputable companies sometimes use a variation of an official or nationally recognized name to try to win your confidence in their offers.

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