Millions of people annually get scammed in a variety of different ways, but none of them get hit quite as hard as those that lose their shirt in lottery scams.
If you have ever been contacted by someone that has told you that you have won, and you've gone through the process of trying to get the money, then you already know how this works, but for those that aren't sure, watch out.
It continues today, and happens far more often then you'd think, even though information technology moves faster than ever before.
The scam is simple; it starts with initial contact, via phone or mail.
A person is told that they have won a huge international lottery with sums of upwards of 7 figures.
The scammer then talks to the victim or asks them simple routine questions inciting more excitement.
The longer a victim stays on the phone with a scam artist, the more they find it credible that they've actually won.
Now, here's where the scam starts to get tricky, the con artist asks for thousands of dollars to release the international funds, and when a person gives up their money or information, the scammer takes everything and delivers nothing.
The above sounds so simple, and to the point.
How could anyone fall for it? Well, the problem lies with the fantasy of winning the lottery, and making that million-dollar mark.
More and more people around the globe want to make serious income, and winning seems so much easier than having to work hard for it.
If you are targeted as a winner, don't be a victim.
Make sure that you take a few notes, and understand the following tips to avoid being at a loss of finances.
• Walk Away - If you get a phone call, if you get a letter, or anything that is too good to be true, walk away.
Simply throw it out, or don't listen.
Remember, only you know if you've played the lottery recently or not.
• Send Nothing - Lottery winners do not have to pay out of pocket to receive their finances.
You pay for a ticket, you win, and you get money.
There's no exchange of money out of pocket after winning, so watch out.
• Never Give Information - Never ever give social security numbers, contact information, or anything that ties your identity at a personal level.
You will only cause stress to yourself if you give out your info.
Even if there is a promise of millions of dollars, be wary at all times.
By understanding how the scam works, and following the above tips, you can avoid getting scammed.
Winning the lottery is not easy, but getting scammed into believing you've won is...
so be careful.