Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Warns Players About Phone Scam
The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) is alerting players to a new scam involving callers pretending to be lottery officials and offering fake million-dollar prizes.
According to ASL Executive Director Sharon Strong, reports have surfaced about scammers calling random phone numbers and claiming the recipient has won a lottery prize.
Important: The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery does not give away winning tickets or cash prizes over the phone. Lottery tickets can only be purchased through authorized ASL retailers.
How Real Lottery Winners Are Contacted
There is one exception. Players who participate in Play It Again® Second-Chance Drawings through The Club in the official Arkansas Lottery app may be contacted if they win. These drawings are only for eligible non-winning instant tickets that were entered into the promotion.
If you're a second-chance winner:
- You will be contacted by an official lottery representative.
- Your name can be verified on The Club's Drawings and Winners page.
- No payment is required to claim your prize.
Watch for These Red Flags
If someone contacts you about a lottery prize or drawing you never entered, treat it as a scam. Be especially cautious if they:
- Ask for personal or financial information
- Request a fee to claim winnings
- Direct you to a location other than the ASL Claim Center
- Pressure you to act quickly
These are common tactics used by fraudsters.
What to Do If You Receive a Scam Call
Anyone who receives one of these suspicious calls is encouraged to report it. Players can contact the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery's investigations team or file a complaint with the Arkansas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
Bottom line: If a surprise lottery prize sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always verify any lottery-related communication through official Arkansas Scholarship Lottery channels before taking action.
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