Watch out for Powerball Scams

Tonight's record breaking Powerball jackpot will be the largest in the history of the game, and the Better Business Bureau says it's also the perfect opportunity for scammers to come out and play in an attempt to try and trick you into thinking that you've won a cash prize.

The BBB serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa is warning consumers that scammers will be taking advantage of the situation.

Remember the big Powerball winners will be announced on television and online, but the Better Business Bureau fully expects scammers to reach out via email, telephone and snail mail to “inform” secondary winners of smaller prizes. Lottery scams were among the Top Ten Scams of 2015 as reported to BBB Scam Tracker.

• Here’s How You Could Absolutely Win The Powerball Jackpot

The targets of lottery scammers are typically asked to pay “taxes” or other fees upfront before they can claim their “winnings.” Of course, once they make the payment (or several payments), the big prize is never awarded and the scammers are nowhere to be found.

Another variation of a lottery scam is when the target receives a congratulatory letter in the mail informing them of the big win. Included is a check to cover the taxes on the winnings. Victims are instructed to deposit it into their bank account and then send the money to a third party, usually by wire transfer or prepaid debit card, which are largely untraceable. The lottery check is a fake that bounces and the victim is out the money.

According to the BBB here are some tips to avoid being the victim of a lottery scam:

• Don't pay up to claim your prize. You should never have to pay money or buy products in order to receive a prize. Be especially wary of requests to send money via wire, prepaid debit card, gift card or other unusual forms of payment.

• Be wary of email announcements. Major sweepstakes organizations sometimes email about smaller prizes, but for big winners they usually show up at your house with a big check (and a camera crew).

• You can't win a contest you didn't enter. You need to buy a ticket or complete an application to participate in a contest or lottery. Be very careful if you've been selected as a winner for a contest you never entered.

• Verify -- but not by using a source the scammers give you. Check if an offer is real, but don't call the phone number in the email or website you suspect may be a scam. If it is a con, chances are the person on the other line will be involved, too.

Should you come in contact with a lottery scam, report it to the BBB Scam Tracker here.

Source: BBB