Ontario Lottery to Launch Online Gaming Site

Posted on August 12th, 2010

A second Canadian Provincial lottery may enter the internet gambling industry. Earlier in the year the British Columbia Lottery Corporation launched an online gaming website. Ste stated purpose was to provide BC residents with a safe alternative to unlicensed and unregulated offshore gambling sites. Some reporters were cynical about the move online because earlier the [...]

No Comments

BC Lottery Launches New Online Casino

Posted on July 16th, 2010

The British Columbia lottery has announced the launch of a new lottery backed online gambling site. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation has been providing lottery services since 1985. The goal of the new casino website is to provide online gamblers in Canada with a safe government owned casino. The BC website will be the first [...]

No Comments

Old Scam New Victim

Posted on May 11th, 2009

A well known lottery scam is making a comeback. In the new version of this old scam a caller will say he or she represents a lottery or sweepstakes, in this case the Canadian Lottery, and will tell the potential victim that if they send in a small amount of money to cover taxes or other ‘expenses.’ One of the latest victims, a 74 year old woman from Tennessee tells how she became a victim.A man called and told her she had won the Canadian Lottery. She describes the caller as convincing and a ‘good salesman.’ The woman, whose name is Leann, was led to believe that they would come to her house with a big check similar to the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. Like many Leann thought the supposed big win would help with her finances. The man said he was an employee of a company called Inspired Memories that represents various lotteries.

The man then convinced Leann to send money via Western Union to ‘cover next year’s taxes.’ Leann assumed the money was going to Canada but anyone with the control number and password can access the money. Leann thinks the money went to Toronto but police think otherwise. The man called again and convinced her to send more money due to a ‘glitch’ processing the finds the first time.

Leann has become the latest victim of an old lottery scam. Many lottery scammers deliberately target the elderly because of their trusting nature. Lottery scams are usually easy to recognize. One of the first signs of a lottery scam is someone telling the potential victim they have won a lottery they never entered or bought a lottery ticket for. It is impossible to win a legitimate lottery without purchasing a lottery ticket. Another sure sign of a lottery scam is asking for an advance fee. No legitimate lottery ever asks for advance money to cover ‘fees.’

Some lotteries are considering allowing the sale of online lottery tickets. Winners would be notified by email and direct mail and security measures could eliminate some of the most common lottery scams. Players would also appreciate the convenience that the sale of online lottery tickets would provide.

If someone ever calls stating you have won a lottery that you never entered the best course of action would be to hang up on the caller and report the phone number to police. Most of these lottery scammers operate outside the United States and any money sent will be impossible to recover. Don’t be a victim!

-->

Comments Off