A common scam tactic used by lottery scammers is to request money from players to release their prize. These scams often involve money trapped overseas and are known as the Nigerian lottery. Legitimate lottery providers will never ask you for money to release your prize. However, it is still common for scam artists to send you a winnings check, which means that you have to wire the money back to them. Be very wary of lottery scams, especially the ones involving money that you’re trapped overseas.
Legality
While some states have made it legal to run lottery games over the Internet, most haven’t yet made it mainstream. Some have approved the games through internal rule making processes while others have adopted specific legislation. Rhode Island and Washington D.C. have both made online lottery games legal, but there are still a few drawbacks to be aware of. Listed below are some of these issues. You can also find out how the rules of your state affect online lottery games.
Scams
A common aspect of scams involving online lotteries is that people are lured into giving personal information and money in exchange for a chance to win a big prize. These scams typically involve fake lottery websites and bogus claims of winning money. These scams are particularly dangerous for older individuals, as they can lose their retirement savings. Be careful to only play on legit lottery websites, and never respond to unsolicited emails.
Payment methods
Many online lottery sites accept payment via PayPal or other similar methods. These methods are generally safer and allow players to make deposits without revealing their credit card information. To buy lottery tickets through PayPal, you must have a bank account linked to it or link it to your PayPal account. In some cases, you may want to use a credit card, like the PA Lottery Play+. Using a credit card is more convenient, however.
Location restrictions
When you’re playing the online lottery, you should be aware that certain websites use location services to determine if you’re eligible to play. For example, the Illinois Lottery requires you to be in the state of Illinois to buy tickets. If you’re not, you should turn off location services in your browser and read the individual lottery’s privacy policies. This way, you won’t be caught unawares. You’ll also be able to choose how much information a website can use to determine whether you’re eligible to play.
Scams involving Zhao Liqun’s online lottery
In the past, scammers have abused Chinese lottery systems to take advantage of people looking for money. One of the most notorious cases of online lottery fraud involves Zhao Liqun, who worked as a lottery agent in China in 2005. He found a loophole in the system, and was able to print out winning lottery tickets minutes after the draws had taken place. The scam lasted for three years and resulted in the theft of over $3.76 million from unsuspecting lottery players. Despite this massive loss, Zhao Liqun has been sentenced to life in prison.