SCAM ALERT! Wisconsin Lottery urging players to be careful with personal information

MADISON (WITI) -- The Wisconsin Lottery is urging players to think twice before giving out personal information to anyone who contacts them and says they have won a lottery prize.

The Lottery has heard from several players who recently have been contacted about supposedly winning a special 2nd Chance drawing or other similar drawings.  The caller has attempted to get them to provide money and personal information in order to "process" their prize claim.

The special drawing does not exist.  The caller is a thief.

"Be suspicious of calls out of the blue that seem too good to be true," said Mike Edmonds, Lottery Director.  "Don't let the idea of a big prize cloud your judgment and lead you into a big mistake."

Edmonds says there are ways you can protect yourself:

The Wisconsin Lottery will never contact players to tell them they've won a prize, unless they have entered a second-chance or special event drawing.  The Lottery will never ask for personal bank information as a prerequisite to claiming a prize, or require players to pay a fee or make special additional purchases to claim a prize.

If you're suspicious of a caller please contact the Lottery at (608) 261-4916, or send an email to info@wilottery.com.