We all want to get that magical call telling us we’re suddenly filthy rich (or clean rich). But if some random person video-calls you claiming they’ve got a million-dollar lottery ticket with your name on it? Hang up. Immediately.
The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) is waving a giant red flag after reports of a new scammer doing exactly this.
“To be clear, this is a scam,” says ASL Executive Director Sharon Strong. “We do not offer winning lottery tickets or bags of cash over the phone.”
If you want a ticket, you’ve gotta buy it the old-fashioned way—at a licensed ASL retailer.
The One Exception (Don’t Ghost the Real Lottery)
Now, if you’re a member of The Club and you’ve been entering your non-winning scratch-offs into those Play It Again® Second-Chance drawings, you might actually get a legitimate call from a lottery representative.
But if you’re skeptical, don’t sweat it. You can double-check if your luck actually turned around by logging into the official app or visiting The Club’s Drawings and Winners page. If your name isn’t there, you’re dealing with a phony.
How to Spot the B.S. (Bogus Scams)
If you get a call about a drawing you never entered, or if the person on the other end asks you to do any of the following:
- 💸 Pay a “fee” to get your prize.
- 🤫 Hand over your personal information.
- 📍 Meet them at a sketchy, non-official location instead of the actual ASL Claim Center.
It’s a scam. Don’t play along, and definitely don’t give them a dime.
Be a Snitch
If one of these fraudsters tries to slide into your contacts, don’t just get mad—get them in trouble. Here is who you should contact to ruin their day:
- Email the ASL Big Guns: Drop a line to Blake Hudson (Director of Investigations and Enforcement) at [email protected].
- Call the Hotline: Dial the Arkansas Lottery Security Hotline at 1-888-606-6292.
- Tattle to the AG: File an official complaint with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at arkansasag.gov/file-a-complaint.
Stay safe out there, and keep your personal info on lock!
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