![\"040414_SidBlog_PowerballScam\"](\"https:\/\/stateofthenation2012.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/040414_SidBlog_PowerballScam.png\")
<\/a> through summer \u2013 fraudsters<\/a> have conceived a clever new con.<\/p>\nIn random telephone calls, crooks claim there are \u201cunclaimed\u201d Powerball prizes that you can win\u00a0by picking\u00a0random numbers. Do that, officials say,\u00a0and you may get a follow-up phone call alleging that your numbers won a lower-level prize of a new car and\/or a boatload of cash.<\/p>\n
But know this: \u201cThey seem to be \u2018casing\u2019 the consumers for future scams, asking them general financial questions about their investments and the values of their homes,\u201d warns theWisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection<\/a>.<\/p>\n Although this new ruse recently surfaced in the Badger State, it may be occurring elsewhere.<\/p>\n In one way, this scheme is a departure from the traditional M.O. of lottery and sweepstakes scams \u2013 which involves mailing you a bogus partial-payment check that you\u2019re asked to deposit and then having you forward a certain amount back to pay for taxes or processing fees, or requesting your bank account or personal information for a supposed direct deposit of winnings that never arrive.<\/p>\n In another way, however, it\u2019s an old trick. Some scammers identify potential victims by soliciting opinions, habits and personal wealth to gauge vulnerability to different schemes. Such info is shared in\u201csucker lists\u201d<\/a> bought and sold on the black market, sometimes detailing information about a target\u2019s finances and personal interests, along with specific fraudulent pitches that past victims have fallen for.<\/p>\n Considering that sweepstakes and lottery scams are\u00a0huge \u2013 and nab those ages 55 to 64 at twice the national average and those older three times as often, according to the Federal Trade Commission \u2013 here\u2019s what you should know:<\/p>\n Powerball prizes don\u2019t include cars.<\/b> Indeed, with nine ways to win<\/a>, Powerball offers more bounty than just that well-publicized grand prize (sometimes akin to the gross national product of some countries). But the lower-tier prizes are only in cash \u2013 not merchandise \u2013 and while there\u2019s a $1 million prize, others are just $4.<\/p>\n And no matter the number of lucky numbers, you need to hold a dated ticket for drawings held twice weekly. Also know that officials do not call people \u2013 entrants or not \u2013 to offer a \u201csecond chance\u201d to cash in; real winners must come forward with a matching ticket.<\/p>\n Unclaimed Powerball prizes are kept by the lottery jurisdiction, <\/b>which includes 43 participating states and the District of Columbia. That money is either put back into future drawings or rolls into the state\u2019s general fund. So if real winners don\u2019t come forward to claim their prize, you<\/i> certainly won\u2019t get it. Answers to other Powerball questions can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n >> Get discounts on financial services with your AARP Member Advantages.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n If you receive an unexpected \u201cwinning\u201d check, it\u2019s a scam. <\/b>That\u2019s not happening in this new Powerball ruse, but it\u2019s the bread and butter of similar scams.\u00a0<\/b>No legitimate sweepstakes or lottery issues partial-payment checks and asks for a portion back for taxes \u2013 or anything else.<\/p>\n If you win a legitimate contest, a portion of your jackpot may immediately be withheld for federal and state taxes, and you\u2019re responsible to pay any balance when filing that year\u2019s taxes (the IRS and your home state are notified of winners).<\/p>\n Those bogus partial-payment checks, with instructions to forward back some portion for taxes or other fees, work like this: The checks are counterfeit<\/a>, even though your bank may immediately accept them and credit your account. It can take up to two weeks for banks to discover a fake check, and when that occurs, you could be on the hook for any money drawn from its deposit \u2013 including the amount forwarded for the alleged taxes.<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t enter, you didn\u2019t win.<\/b> End of story. No matter what you may be told.<\/p>\n For information about other scams, sign up for the <\/strong>Fraud Watch Network<\/b><\/a>. You\u2019ll receive <\/strong>free email alerts<\/strong><\/a> with tips and resources to help you spot and avoid identity theft and fraud, and gain access to a network of experts, law enforcement and people in your community who will keep you up to date on the latest scams in your area.<\/strong><\/p>\n ___ by Sid Kirchheimer AARP: SCAM ALERT Just as sweepstakes scam season kicks off \u2013 these prize lies tend proliferate in spring through summer \u2013 fraudsters have conceived a clever new con. In random telephone calls, crooks claim there are \u201cunclaimed\u201d … Continue reading
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