The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has cautioned the public against the activities and operations of lotto fraudsters, social media miscreants and illegal lotto operators and agents.

According to the NLA, the fraudsters and social media miscreants are using radio, television, online, newspapers, and social media platforms, mostly Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other communication platforms such as phone calls, text messages and email to defraud unsuspecting people.

Explaining the activities of these fraudsters, the NLA, in a statement, said the fraudsters have set up Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media pages using pictures and names of the Director-General and staff of the NLA to defraud people.

The statement said: “These fraudsters use clever tactics to convince the staking public to make mobile money transfers to them in exchange for winning lotto numbers.

“The lotto fraudsters largely supported by some illegal lotto operators and agents have consistently been misinforming the general public that:

1. They have access to NLA winning lotto numbers before the draw.

2. Patrons should not stake NLA products because NLA will automatically know the numbers they have staked on the Machines (Point of Sale Terminals, POSTs), hence, the Authority will ensure that such Numbers are not drawn. All this information is completely false.”

The NLA has also cautioned Alpha Lotto Company over its operations.

Alpha Lotto is alleged to be using Machines (Point of Sales Terminals, POSTs), and charging commissions above that of the NLA.

The NLA said it has not licensed and authorised Alpha Lotto to use its own Machines (Point of Sale Terminals, POSTs) and platform to generate branded electronic tickets.

“Alpha Lotto Point of Sale Terminals (POSTs) are illegal and steps are being taken by NLA to cease all the Machines of Alpha Lotto with immediate effect,” the statement said.

The NLA has cautioned the public that:

1. NLA has NOT authorised nor appointed any individual or group of individuals to offer winning lotto numbers to the public since lotto is a game of chance and it is impossible to foretell winning numbers.

2. NLA and its staff have no knowledge and control over the outcome of Draws. Draws are conducted in a very open and transparent manner, and open to the general public. Every Ghanaian is free and welcome to witness and partake in the draw at 6:30 p.m. daily except Sundays and public holidays.

3. It is absolutely false that staff of NLA, the lotto fraudsters and social media miscreants have access to the winning lotto numbers of the Authority.

4. The social media pages created by the lotto fraudsters and social media miscreants using pictures and names of the Director-General and Staff of the Authority are completely fraudulent and intended to defraud unsuspecting and gullible Ghanaians.

5. The products of the Authority are sold by licensed retailers (Lotto Marketing Companies) using Point of Sale Terminals (POSTs) approved by NLA to generate branded serialised electronic tickets as a proof of transaction to be used to redeem prizes if anyone wins after the draw.

6. NLA has neither licensed nor authorised Alpha Lotto nor any private lotto operator or agent to use Machines (Point of Sale Terminals, POSTs) to generate branded electronic tickets parallel to NLA serialised electronic tickets. Steps are being taken by Management of NLA to cease all the Machines of Alpha Lotto and any other Private Lotto Operator or Agent.

7. The Authority is yet to introduce onto the market its online lottery. Hence, any form of online lottery currently operating is illegal and has no approval of the Authority.

8. There is no way winning lotto numbers can be leaked before a draw is conducted by the Authority since no one has access, knowledge and information about the winning lotto numbers before a draw is conducted by the Authority.

9. The Authority shall not be responsible for any losses incurred by unsuspecting people who are defrauded by these lotto fraudsters, social media miscreants and illegal lotto operators and agents.

However, the Authority, in collaboration with the relevant security agencies are taking pragmatic steps to help curtail the activities of the lotto fraudsters, social media miscreants and illegal lotto operators and agents.

Finally, the NLA respectfully would like to passionately appeal to the general public to be more vigilant and discontinue engaging the services of the lotto fraudsters, social media miscreants and illegal lotto operators and agents.