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Scam Bust

Scam: a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation
Fraud: 1a:DECEIT, TRICKERY; specifically intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right 1b:an act of deceiving or misrepresenting: TRICK 2a:a person who is not what he or she pretends to be: IMPOSTOR; also: one who defrauds: CHEAT 2b:one that is not what it seems or is represented to be synonym - DECEPTION, IMPOSTURE
---Definition by Merriam-Webster Online Dictrionary

Tools

Spotting a Lottery Scam

If the prize or lottery notification has any of the following elements,
I wouldn't respond to it:

It tells you, "YOU HAVE WON A PRIZE!" even if you did not enter
any competition run by the prize promoters.

The mail is personally addressed to you but it has been posted using
bulk mail - thousands of others around the world may have received the
exact same notification.

The prize promoters ask for a fee (for administration or "processing")
to be paid in advance.

Other schemes pretend to be legitimate lotteries, or offer you the opportunity
to buy shares in a fund that purports to purchase tickets in legitimate overseas
lotteries. The scheme offers bait prizes that, if they are real, are often substandard,
over-priced, or falsely represented. Or, as part of the prize you can purchase
"exclusive items" which may also be over-priced or substandard.
To get your prize might require travel overseas at your own cost to receive it.

Avoiding Scam Schemes

- NEVER redeem a Lottery ticket for someone you don't know.
- NEVER give your credit card numbers over the phone to
 anyone promising Lottery cash prizes or memberships.
- NEVER respond to a letter or phone call from someone who
 offers you a guarantee of winning a prize. The Colorado
 Lottery does not guarantee you a prize, only a chance of
 winning if you buy a legal ticket.
- NEVER accept a collect phone call from someone claiming
 to be a Lottery official.
- ONLY participate in a 'lottery pool' with people you trust.
 If you have questions about 'lottery clubs,' please call the
 Colorado Lottery Criminal Investigations Division at
 (303) 759-6839 or (719) 546-5275.
- ONLY buy Lottery tickets from authorized Colorado Lottery retailers.

To protect yourself getting hooked on offers that are too attractive, educate yourself and familiarize yourself with current fraud trends.