Lottery Offers Self-Checks to Help Players Avoid Scams

In recognition of national Scams Month this February, the Missouri Lottery wants to remind players that now, more than ever, they have the resources to self-verify if their ticket has won a Lottery prize.

“We have developed a number of prize verification services for player convenience and safety,” began May Scheve Reardon, executive director of the Missouri Lottery.

Additionally, Reardon added that all new Scratchers games have specialized FailSafe® barcodes on the ticket’s play area beneath the scratch-off coating. Scratchers tickets with the FailSafe barcode can also be scanned on the CAT machine to verify the ticket’s prize. To combat these types of scams, the Lottery has developed a variety of verification services to make it as easy as possible for players to identify if they have won a Lottery prize.

In addition to the Check-A-Ticket Machines, other self-verification services include:

· Player-requested prize receipts from retail clerks;

· Checking winning Draw Game numbers and remaining Scratchers prize amounts at MOLottery.com;

· Signing up to receive winning Draw Game numbers via email or text message through a My Lottery Players Club account; and

· Calling a regional winning numbers hotline:

Mid-Missouri: (573) 751-1111

Kansas City: (8116) 795-0203

Springfield: (417) 888-4271

St. Louis: (314) 340-5805

Additionally, after purchasing any Lottery ticket, players should sign the back, keep the ticket in a safe place and promptly check to see if they have won a prize.

When in doubt, players should contact the Missouri Lottery at 1-866-MOLOTTERY

(1-866-665-6883) to report suspicious activity.

Unfair or deceptive business practices can also be reported by calling the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

To learn more, visit http://www.molottery.com/scams/scams.shtm.

Lottery Offers Self-Checks to Help Players Avoid Scams