Includes video report
The Florida Lottery is warning players about social media scams and fake accounts offering money and other prizes.
Florida resident Jason Farmer received a message from what he thought was the Florida Lottery Instagram account.
"Next thing they're telling me 'well we have this promotion that we're giving way $500,000 and a new truck.' So at that very moment I really thought it was likely a scam," Farmer said.
It was just an account with a similar name and similar pictures.
"They're posting very random things. They're kind of copying pictures that we've posted," Florida Lottery Deputy Director of Communications Keri Nucatola said.
Nucatola said the lottery does giveaways through social media but will usually require people to share their posts or comment, and they'll rarely give away cash.
"We've given away electronics. We've given away iPads, headphones things like that," Nucatola said.
They also don't give away more than $600 in total value in any one prize.
Farmer had a strong suspicion his message was a scam because of that and because of the bizarre questions.
"The questions just kept getting more personal," Farmer said.
We tried emailing the administrator of the account that tried to con Farmer, but we didn't receive a response.
"The safest thing to do is just give us a call," Nucatola said.
VIDEO: Watch the report
These scammers never give up!
I guess people believe anything they want to. THe whole social media stuff is rediculous anyway. Share a post. That is a waste of time.
I recall a game that people played on facebook which was dumb. One of them was to share around a post that someone won $7000. When I found out it wasn't and was told to share the post, I literally wanted to tell people a piece of my mind. I guess a lot of people have nothing better to do. Social media is a waste of time, it's not worth it and it's ruining this country.
Unbelievable the scams that are out now!
And most of the time they have a foreign accent when they call on the phone.
I don't answer now at all but they can change the number to look like it's a number of someone you know that is calling you but I don't fall for that any longer either.
I'm not on instagram so they sure can't get me there!
I have an Instagram account but I can't deactivate it because I would have to go to Facebook to do it which is ridiculous.
If more people were to get off then most people would understand.
I do not own a cell phone because I cannot afford it. The scammers will not waste their time on someone like me.
Precisely. Some folks will fall for it, no doubt. The words " You have won" are so addictive to weak minds, that it has the ability to make those folk reach for their wallets & checkbooks with little or no resistance at all. There is absolutely nothing wrong in taking a deep breath, and saying " shouldn't money be coming to me, instead of it going out?"
Common sense,, don't answer unknown phone numbers, and read the fine print on any letter.
You do not own a cell phone music? How do you keep in contact with family & friends- by being online? What if you run into a situation where you need emergency help for yourself, you on all fours, clutching your chest, pain running through your body, you going to ask total strangers to dial 911 for you? What if they left their phones at home? Wanna hit a JP, and only then, get a cellphone... music?
* I have seen homeless folk with cellphones.