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Connecticut Gaming Officials Warn About Fake 'Winning' Lottery Tickets Scam

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- A person in the Bridgeport and Norwalk areas is selling instant lottery tickets altered to appear to be winning tickets but that actually have no value, the Gaming Division of the Department of Consumer Protection is warning Connecticut consumers. 

This is a photo of an unidentified person of interest in the investigation into the "sale" of fake "winning" lottery tickets.

This is a photo of an unidentified person of interest in the investigation into the "sale" of fake "winning" lottery tickets.

Photo Credit: Bridgeport Police Department

“We have already received several complaints from victims who bought these tickets for between $500 and $2,000, believing that they could cash them in for the winning prize of $20,000,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein. 

Consumers are reminded to buy lottery tickets only from authorized retailers. Alarm signals should go off anytime someone is trying to “sell” a so-called winning previously-scratched ticket. Frequently, the con artists will approach a consumer and offer to “sell” that person a winning lottery ticket for an amount that is substantially less than the prize they claim to have won.

Providing a variety of reasons why they cannot cash the ticket themselves, the scammers seek to prey on the public’s goodwill and defraud unsuspecting consumers.

“The proper and only way to verify a winning ticket is through a retailer’s lottery terminal or on the Lottery Ticket Checker available in all lottery retail locations,” Rubenstein said. “Don’t take the word of anyone who offers you a ‘winning ticket’ for cash.”

Agency investigators are working with local law enforcement to identify and apprehend the individual or individuals selling bogus tickets.

The department has released a photo of an unidentified person of interest in the investigation and asks for the public’s help in identifying this person. Anyone with information may contact Investigator James Jepsen at 860-713-6286 or by email at james.jepsen@ct.gov.

Connecticut Lottery Corp. President and CEO Anne M. Noble reminds consumers they can prevent being a victim of fraud.

“If you are approached by someone who offers to ‘sell’ you a winning lottery ticket, just say no. Leave the area, contact your local authorities or the Department of Consumer Protection and provide a description of the con artist and any information that will assist authorities," Noble said. 

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