STARS Air Ambulance is warning people about a phone scam following the wrap up of the 2017 STARS Lottery.
“We do seem to see a bit of a spike in these spam calls being reported to us and the RCMP and the fraud centre during the campaign and once it winds down. I know that everybody dreams of winning a big lottery prize but unfortunately scammers out there have been known to take advantage of this,” says Fatima Khawaja, spokesperson.
“To protect yourself, you really need to keep these two points in mind. One, you will never ever be asked to send money to claim a STARS lottery prize. If you’re being asked to send a cheque, a money order or payment of any kind, know that it is a scam.”
She adds, “the best thing to do is just check directly with STARS to verify if you’re a winner.”
Winners are notified through regular mail. You can also find out if you’re a winner by checking the lottery website or by emailing [email protected]. Khawaja advises people who think they are being targeted by a scam to try to take down the phone number and contact your local RCMP detachment, as well as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Written by Angie Mellen, 106.1 The Goat
