The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation (TEL) is sometimes contacted by players who have received telephone calls, letters, or emails that are questionable. Here are a few guidelines to help determine if these communications are legitimate or if they are scams:
The TEL does not contact winners unless they have won a prize by entering a TEL-sponsored promotional game or second chance drawing (such as Play It Again! or VIP Rewards Drawings).
No money or “special fee” is ever required in order to claim a prize won from the TEL.
Anyone who requests money from you before you can receive a prize is probably not legitimate. This includes any mention of up-front taxes, fees, or insurance.
If you think you’re a victim of fraud or attempted fraud by persons representing themselves as representatives of the Tennessee Lottery, please report it to your local law enforcement or Lottery Security at (615) 324-6688.
Recent Scams
The Tennessee Education Lottery has received multiple notices of a scam in the form a mailed letter from “President Mega Millions Commission” regarding a “Mega Millions Spanish Sweepstakes.” There have also been reports of telephone calls from individuals claiming to represent the Mega Millions game.
The letter includes a photo of Rebecca Paul, President and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery, holding an oversized check with two Tennessee Mega Millions jackpot winners. The letter implies that the recipient has won a $4.2 million prize. The letter also states that 5% of your winnings will be withheld and that if the winner can’t claim the prize in Madrid, Spain, there will be a delivery charge.
This is in no way connected with the Tennessee Lottery or the Mega Millions game and is a scam that should be avoided. Do not respond.
View Scam Letter
NOTICE – Scam
The Tennessee Education Lottery has identified a scam in the form of an email that is allegedly being sent from the Lottery’s President and CEO or from Amy O’Neal, a member of a group from Tennessee that won a Powerball jackpot.
The email claims that the recipient is to receive a Donation Grant from the “Tennessee 20,” in addition to other donations.
This email is a scam and is not being sent from the Tennessee Lottery, Rebecca Paul, or Amy O’Neal. Do not respond or click any links attached to the email.
Please refer to the tips on this page to keep yourself safe from scam artists.