Got a text that you've won $4.9M? It's a scam, says Atlantic Lottery

The Atlantic Lottery Corporation is warning about text messages telling people they have won millions of dollars in a "2016 promotion."

The text messages say your phone number "has been randomly selected" for a cash prize of $4.9 million US, and asks you to email an address that looks like it belongs to Lotto 6/49.

"We've recently become aware of these text messages," said Jay Merritt, manager of risk management and investigations for ALC, in a news release Friday.

"A legitimate lottery would never ask awinner to provide banking details through email or a text message."

Another tip-off is that Atlantic Lottery operates only in Atlantic Canada, so a jackpot in American dollars doesn't make sense.

You can buy tickets on the organization's website and winners do get notified by email, but the lottery corporation does not send out unsolicited payments, said Merritt.

"If you think you've received a fraudulent notice from someone claiming you have won a lottery prize, your best plan of action is to contact either your local police agency or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre," he said.

Police have recently warned about many different kinds of phone scams, including one from callers who claim to represent the Canada Revenue Agency.

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