Security Awareness

The Kentucky Lottery Corporation is committed to ensuring that all aspects of our games meet or exceed industry standards for quality, fairness, and integrity.  In addition, we strive to ensure that all aspects of our organization, including our retailer network, function in an honest and ethical manner. If you know of, or suspect, any impropriety please contact us  at klcfraudwatch@kylottery.com (Kentucky Lottery Corporation Fraud Watch) or by phone at (502) 560-1813.  You may remain anonymous.

Security Awareness for Players is designed to help players protect themselves from fraud through some easy tips and advice.  Don't become a victim. Go with your gut feeling. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Security Tips

  • Always check your tickets at the time of purchase.  If your ticket is not correct, the retailer can cancel it and issue you another.  However, this must occur within 30 minutes of the ticket being produced and before "Draw Break."  Draw break is a specific point in time shortly before an official drawing when wagering is terminated for that drawing.  Cancellation does not apply to Powerball games.
  • Always sign the back of your ticket.  This will help prevent someone from trying to cash it, in the event it becomes lost or stolen.  If your ticket is lost or stolen, report the matter to the Lottery Division of Security and the local police agency.
  • If you play a multi-draw ticket and win before the final draw, make sure you obtain an exchange ticket from the cashing retailer, and make sure the ticket you receive is accurate.  DO THIS IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT.  Your new ticket should state "Exchange" at the top.
  • If you purchase a scratch-off ticket, check it and make sure the latex coating has not been previously scratched or tampered with anywhere on the ticket. If the ticket appears to have been tampered with, contact the Division of Security immediately.
  • Never allow a retailer to charge you a commission, fee or tax for cashing a winning ticket. If this occurs, contact the Division of Security immediately.
  • If a retailer quotes you a winning amount less than you think you're entitled to, ask to see the Pay Authorization Slip.
  • If you suspect that a retailer has misled you as to whether or not your ticket is a winner, ask for your ticket back.  If the retailer refuses, contact Lottery Security immediately.
  • Never accept a collect call from anyone claiming to be a Lottery official.
  • Only buy Lottery tickets from authorized Kentucky Lottery retailers. If you are approached by someone offering a "winning ticket" for cash, refuse the offer and contact the Division of Security immediately.
  • Never purchase tickets from foreign lotteries by phone or by mail. The sale and trafficking in foreign lottery tickets is a violation of federal law, including laws prohibiting the importing and transmitting of lottery materials or information in interstate or foreign commerce, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1301 and 1302.
  • Never agree to help a stranger cash a lottery ticket. If you do, more than likely you will become the victim of a "pigeon drop" scam. If you are approached by a stranger asking for help cashing a ticket, contact the Division of Security and your local law enforcement immediately.
  • Unless you specifically entered a "promotional game" sponsored by the Kentucky Lottery Corporation, you will never be contacted by us informing you that you have won a prize.
  • Keep your credit card and bank account numbers to yourself.  The Kentucky Lottery will never ask for this type of information.
If you become, or suspect that you have become a victim of a lottery-related crime, contact us at the phone number or email address provided above.

Lottery Scams

In recent years, regular mail and Internet e-mail have become a means for con artists to defraud innocent people out of their money. Scams involving fictitious lotteries are no exception. Fraud Watch International lists approximately 380 known lottery scam operatives around the world.

Here’s an example on how it can happen: 

You receive a letter or e-mail advising that you have won a substantial lottery prize...usually from a foreign country and usually containing language directing you to keep your win confidential or run the risk of compromising it. You may be instructed to contact a claims agent to collect the winnings. If you respond, you will receive a claim form which requires you to return the form with personal details including copies of a driver's license, passport, etc. If you do this, you will then receive information on how to collect your winnings. 

Most people want their winnings transferred into their bank account. The con will now require up-front fees for taxes, insurance or even legal fees. If you don’t want to pay up-front fees, you will be advised to open an online account with a specified bank, who's "policy" requires a deposit of around US $3,000. The bank is a fake. Or, you may even receive a check for a partial payment to defray the expenses. The check will bounce. The bottom line is that if you play along with the con you will be duped out of your own money and never receive the prize money promised. In addition, your chances of ever recovering any of your money are slim to none.

If you think you've been a victim of an Internet fraud scheme, you can file a complaint online with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, of which the FBI is a part at ic3.gov.

Victims of telemarketing fraud should contact the Federal Trade Commission at their toll-free number: 1-877-987-3728, or fill out a form that's available on its web site, at ftc.gov.

You can find out more about fraud and related topics at fraudwatchinternational.com (Fraud Watch International) or fakechecks.org/.