What is a lotto scam? Is the email I got about winning the lottery legitimate? A lotto scam is mail, emails, instant messages, or phone calls that are sent by scam artists who claim that you won the lottery so that they can trick you into giving out your personal information or money. Lottery officials DO NOT notify you if you win because an unclaimed prize means they do not have to pay out the money. You are responsible for checking your tickets against the winning lotto numbers to see if you won. If you do have a winning ticket, you have a time limit to claim the prize. See our FAQ about lotto scams for more information.