Officials warn of lottery scams

A scam letter bearing the Mega Millions logo is the latest in a string of lotto scams designed to trick people into providing personal financial information by cashing bogus checks.

The letter, which has been sent to people in several states via standard mail, includes a check for what the scammers say is an unclaimed "Mega Millions" prize. If the check is cashed, it will bounce, but not before the bank stamps it with a routing number and personal account information, and sends it back to the fraudulent organization.

The organization can then use that information to attempt withdrawals from the bank account, according to Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna.

It was unknown Thursday if any Washington residents had received the letters. Consumers who are contacted by anyone purporting to be from the Mega Millions organization should contact Mega Millions at www.megamillions.com/contact_us.asp.

The Attorney General's Office also is receiving an increasing number of calls from consumers inquiring about foreign lotteries. Legitimate lotteries require ticket purchases, and people in the United States are not legally allowed to play foreign lotteries.

People who think they have been targeted by lottery fraud can report it to the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or by filing a complaint online at www.ftc.gov. To report fraud to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, call 1-800-372-8347 or go online at http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/welcome.htm.