Government agencies' names used in lotto scam

The government agencies responsible for gaming and lotteries in the province are warning the public especially south of the border to beware of phoney letters suggesting they've hit the jackpot in a Manitoba lottery.

Both the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission and the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation say several United States residents have received letters, purportedly from one of the agencies, informing them that they have won a large lottery prize.

Commission spokeswoman Andrea Kowal says the letters include a fraudulent cheque the recipients are asked to deposit. The cheques are not legitimate and will bounce, Kowal said.

Recipients are also asked to call a phone number with a Manitoba area code to find out how much they will have to pay in administrative charges and fees to collect their winnings.

"These letters are not from the gaming control commission. We don't conduct lotteries," Kowal told CBC News on Tuesday. "They are a scam."

The gaming control commission ensures gaming activities in Manitoba such as charity gambling events and native-run casinos are conducted properly.

Lotteries and video lottery terminals in the province are handled by the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, however, officials with that agency say players can only win prizes inside Manitoba, and they never require the payment of fees or taxes when issuing a prize.

Kowal advises anyone who receives unsolicited letters, e-mails or phone calls about lottery winnings to report them to police or to PhoneBusters, Canada's anti-fraud call centre.

• PHONEBUSTERS: More on fraudulent "prize pitches"