Virginia Lottery joins forces with National Cybersecurity Alliance to promote safe online play
Richmond, Virginia – In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Virginia Lottery is teaming up with the National Cybersecurity Alliance to help raise awareness about protecting online accounts and staying safe from potential scams. While many think of lottery games as a source of entertainment, the Virginia Lottery emphasizes the importance of staying vigilant against cybersecurity threats that evolve daily.
Encouraging Players to Strengthen Their Online Security
For those who play the lottery online, the Virginia Lottery is encouraging simple yet effective steps to secure accounts. Players are urged to use strong, hard-to-guess passwords, update them regularly, and take advantage of multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible. In addition, keeping devices and browsers up to date plays a vital role in safeguarding accounts against malicious attacks.
“While many people think of the Lottery as just fun and games, there’s more to it than that,” explained Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones. “The Lottery works hard to make sure every game, every ticket, every play is secure and fair to all players.”
The Virginia Lottery also directs players to its Protect Your Play page, which provides practical advice on how to keep accounts secure and recognize potential scams.
Identifying Lottery Scams with Red Flags
Lottery players are warned to stay alert for fake lottery scams that often target unsuspecting individuals. The Virginia Lottery provides a list of key red flags to help identify fraudulent schemes:
- Receiving a claim that you won a prize for a game you never played
- Calls appearing to originate from a foreign country
- Communications with poor spelling or grammar
- Requests to keep your winnings confidential
- Demands for a fee to release your alleged winnings
- Offers to transfer winnings directly to your bank account
- Instructions to call a specific number to verify the prize
Additionally, players should never share personal or financial information over the phone or online, no matter how convincing the message may seem. Just because someone claims you have won a large prize does not guarantee that it is legitimate.
Commitment to Player Safety and Fair Play
The Virginia Lottery remains committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all players. Through proactive partnerships, like the one with the National Cybersecurity Alliance, the Lottery aims to ensure every transaction is secure and every game is conducted with fairness.
For more detailed tips on protecting yourself from scams, visit the Virginia Lottery’s Protect Your Play page. Stay vigilant, play safely, and enjoy the games with peace of mind.
