Consumer Fraud Alert - Sweepstakes Scammers Who Claim to be DCRA Officials

Story at a Glance

Please be advised that individuals claiming to be working for “Consumer Affairs”, or “Consumer and Regulatory Affairs,” are contacting the elderly and otherwise vulnerable, claiming that they have “won” a sweepstakes or lottery, and then convincing their victims to send money in order to “secure” their “winnings”. This is fraud.. DO NOT give these individuals any money or any information about yourself or your finances.

Please be advised that individuals claiming to be working for “Consumer Affairs”, or “Consumer and Regulatory Affairs,” are claiming that consumers have “won” a sweepstakes or lottery.

Media Contacts

Hamilton Kuralt

The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs does not have any lottery or sweepstakes function, and does not oversee any such operation. The scam artists may claim that they are working for either a DC Government or Federal Government agency. DCRA does not have any such function, and there is no federal agency either named “Consumer Affairs” or that operates a lottery or sweepstakes. These communications are occurring via letters and telephone calls, may be on fake DC Government letterhead, and appear to come from a DC Government telephone number.

REMEMBER: NO LEGITIMATE LOTTERY OR SWEEPSTAKES REQUIRES MONEY IN ADVANCE. If you are being asked to give money, IT IS FRAUD.

If you receive such a letter or phone call, contact your local FBI Office immediately. You may also contact the DCRA Office of Service Integrity, at 202-442-8930, or the DCRA Service Integrity Officer via email (Hamilton.Kuralt@dc.gov).

These scams have taken numerous elderly and infirm individuals for their life’s savings, leaving them and their families destitute. They are very convincing, and have years of experience conning individuals. Contact the FBI immediately, and most importantly, remember to never, NEVER give money or financial information to anyone over the phone.