The Florida Lottery is alerting the public to a dangerous scam in which fraudsters pose as lottery officials and falsely claim players have won large cash prizes.

According to officials, scammers are contacting individuals by phone, text, or social media, informing them they’ve won a significant lottery prize — but to claim it, victims are asked to pay upfront fees for “taxes” or provide sensitive personal information.

The Florida Lottery emphasized that it will never notify winners via phone, social media, or text message, nor will it ever ask for payment or personal details like Social Security numbers or bank information.

“These scams are not only deceitful — they’re dangerous,” said Florida Lottery Secretary John F. Davis. “We want to remind everyone that the Florida Lottery does not charge fees to claim prizes, and legitimate prize claims require a valid ticket.”

To protect yourself, the Florida Lottery urges players to follow these precautions:

• Hang up immediately if you receive a suspicious call.
• Do not share any personal or financial information.
• Report the scam by contacting the Florida Lottery Division of Security at (850) 487-7730 or the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA.

Remember: the only way to claim a Florida Lottery prize is in person at an official Lottery office or by mail, and only with a valid winning ticket.

For more tips on staying safe, visit the Florida Lottery’s Security Center: https://floridalottery.com/about/divisions

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