Avoid Powerball Scams

Since the Powerball hit a record breaking sum more people are buying tickets and that means more people are likely to get scammed.

There are also many scammers waiting by the phone and computer to try and take advantage of anyone willing to share their personal information with them.

 News 12 spoke with Chattanooga’s Better Business Bureau about the various ways you can avoid it from happening to you.

Jim Winsett, President of BBB in Chattanooga, said there are many people who are waiting to scam others.

"The sad part is that there are a lot of scammers and fraudsters out there in the market place that will try and take advantage of folks. people will start getting phone calls, they’ll start getting emails suggesting to them they have won and that they need to pay some money to claim that prize. You should never have to pay money to win a prize."

Chattanooga resident, Mechell Jones, said she was unaware there are people out there using the Powerball as a chance to scam them out of money.

" I think we all can be scammed. I don’t think I would rule that out of being scammed, but i’ll just go to official lottery place and get my winnings."

 The Better Business Bureau advises whether you win or lose people should still be mindful of who they give out personal information to. Here are some ways to avoid it from happening to you.

• "It’s active in the market place almost continually. We almost on a weekly basis receive notices where people received a letter or an email indicating they’ve won a lottery or a sweepstakes.
• 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 specially 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 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 you never entered.
• verify–but not by using a source the scammers gives 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.
• check with BBB: Learn more about lottery scams and other cons at bbb.org/scam.
• report scams to BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker.)