Officials: Watch out for NC lottery scam

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- If you get an email saying you won over $1 million from The North Carolina Education Lottery, it's a scam.

NC lottery officials said they are getting reports of scammers sending fake emails to people across the state. The emails claim you won an online drawing called the "Legacy Prize."

The email asks for a player's personal information to be sent to an overseas claim office.

Here are some things that will help people determine if an email is from the North Carolina Education Lottery:

• The lottery does not know who winners are until they claim their prize. People will not get an email notifying them they won a prize unless they are part of the players club

• The lottery will never ask for personal information over email. If you do receive a prize notification email from the "Lucke-Rewards" or subscription program, it will ask you to verify contact information that is already on file

• The lottery does not have an overseas claim office. There are six claim centers located across the state

• Prizes of $100,000 or more must be claimed at NCEL headquarters in Raleigh. Players will need to present a photo ID and proof of Social Security number to claim a prize

• Players can only buy draw tickets online or take part in our online drawings if they are members of the players club. If someone isn't a member and gets an email saying they won, there's a good chance it's not authentic. If someone is a member, they can check the list of current drawings listed on Lucke-Zone