An Old Lottery Scam Hits Texas, and AI Is Making It Worse
You’ve probably heard of this lottery scam before: You get a call or text from someone telling you that you won the lottery, but to get your “winnings,” you have to pay a small fee. Of course, after you pay, the prize disappears, and suddenly that number you called isn’t in operation.
It’s an old trick that’s already made an impact. According to Vegas Insider, lottery scams have cost Americans more than $660 million nationwide. Now, with help from AI, these lottery scams are getting more convincing than ever. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe.
The Scam
The core of the scam hasn’t changed: you receive a call, text, or email insisting you’ve just won the lottery. All you need to do is pay a small “finder’s fee,” “processing fee,” “insurance fee,” or some other made-up charge to unlock your jackpot.
The difference today is how believable it all looks and sounds. Thanks to AI, scammers can mimic lottery officials’ voices through a phishing tactic known as vishing, generate professional-looking messages, and spoof legitimate-seeming caller ID information.
When you add it all together, you get a frighteningly effective scam.
The Target
This scam can hit anyone anywhere, but it’s been hitting Texas particularly hard, with total losses amounting to nearly $37 million. These scammers have been using familiar area codes such as 214, 469, 817, 512, 210, and more.
While older adults have historically been the most vulnerable to social engineering tactics, this updated lottery scam is catching younger people between the twenties and thirties as well. It goes to show just how effective these scams are getting, and they aren’t about to get easier to spot.
How You Can Stay Safe
While you can’t stop scammers from trying, you can avoid getting caught. Before accepting that big “jackpot,” ask yourself:
1. Did you even enter?
If you never bought a ticket or entered a drawing, you didn’t win. It’s that simple. Take a breath and ask yourself, “Why would I win something I never entered?”
2. Are there fees?
A legitimate sweepstakes will never ask you to pay a verification, processing, or delivery fee. If your “winnings” are locked behind a paywall, it’s a lottery scam.
3. How were you contacted?
Real lotteries, casinos, or giveaways don’t reach out by random text, surprise phone call, or social media. You have to check your ticket to claim your prize.
4. Are you being pressured?
If you won the lottery, your prize won’t vanish overnight. Cybercriminals love using pressure tactics to get their victims to pay up. So, if you’re told that your winnings will expire if you don’t pay now, that’s a lottery scam.
5. Have you verified it?
By confirming your winnings directory through the organization’s official website or customer service channel, you’ll be able to easily figure out the truth.
Moral of the Story
Lottery scams aren’t new, but AI is making them smarter, faster, and harder to spot. Always be wary of out-of-the-blue money claims, and never pay for something you supposedly “won,” even if the message looks and sounds legitimate.
Always verify with trusted sources before responding, and always play it safe.
These scams are only going to keep getting smarter, harder to spot, and more dangerous, which is why having the right cybersecurity partner is so important.
At The 20 MSP, we help our clients protect themselves with layered security – anti-virus software, strong backup systems, ongoing cyber awareness training, and more. If your business needs a cybersecurity partner, we’re here to help.
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