Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued a warning this week to Iowans about a recent increase in the prevalence of lottery scams. Last year, Americans lost nearly $340 million to these schemes, where con artists convince victims they won a prize but need to make payments to receive it. Bird says, “Scammers are professional manipulators and thieves. They take advantage of Iowans’ hopes and dreams before stealing from them. They steal not just money, but confidence, joy, trust, and livelihood. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And if you have to pay for your prize, it is a scam.” In one instance, an Iowa woman received a call saying she had won $5.5 million, a new 2023 Mercedes Benz, and $5,000 weekly for life. The scammer built a relationship with her, then demanded a $2,000 fee to claim the prize. After making the payment, she was asked for more money. Fortunately, she realized what was happening and sought help from law enforcement. There are many different types of scams, but they typically have some common themes. Scammer typically initiate the contact through a text message, phone call, or email. They seek personally identifiable information, and often demand payments through unusual means, like prepaid debit cards or gift cards. In the event they ask for more traditional payments, such as cash or checks, scammers often urge victims to lie at the bank or wire transfer site to hide their scheme. Iowans can report suspicious activity to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office or local law enforcement, but it is nearly impossible to recover lost funds once they’ve been transferred. Contact the Iowa Attorney General’s office at 888-777-4590 or file a complaint online at the Iowa AG’s website.
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