Absolutely not! The Austrian Lotto was launched in September 1986 and is still going strong over 34 years later. Unfortunately, fake wins with other institutions have become a regular occurrence – so here are a few tips to keep you and your money safe!

In a Press release, The Austrian Lotto has confirmed the following –

“The Austrian Lotteries and win2day never conducts telephone marketing, have never done so and will not do so in the future. No external companies are commissioned to do this on their behalf. If consumers are asked by telephone for data (especially bank details), these calls have nothing to do with The Austrian Lotto, even if the callers refer to the Austrian Lotteries or win2day. 

Urgent advice: Do not disclose any data and cancel the call.

We maintain that The Austrian Lotto have absolutely nothing to do with companies that sound confusingly similar, such as “EuroMillions”, “EuroMillionswin”, “Euro-millionlotto Entwicklungs- und Betriebsgesellschaft mbH” or “Winner Austria GmbH”. The fraudulent organizations also do not stop using unauthorized company addresses, commercial register numbers and protected logos.

Invitations from syndicates: in a better mood!

Behind the invitation to participate in a lottery or EuroMillions through a syndicate is usually professional organizations with not as friendly intentions as the voice on the phone or the promising text on the website may suggests. It is often only after the contracts have been sent that the small print shows that more than half of the payment is used for administrative costs – that is, it is not used at all in the game.

In order to give the whole thing credibility, it is sometimes claimed to act on behalf of the Austrian Lotteries.  Hang up! The Austrian Lotteries do not actively call anyone, nor do they commission anyone to do so. If players want to try your luck, it is best advised to submit their tips themselves at the acceptance point, on win2day.at or via the lottery app.”

Did you receive a notification that you have won a prize in a lottery? Perhaps the Microsoft Lottery? If so, don’t get too enthusiastic as this is almost certainly a scam.  Players need to find the winning numbers in a newspaper, the internet, or on TV and compare them to their ticket. 

Win notices from foreign lotteries are even more suspicious. Not only do foreign lotteries have the same restriction as domestic lotteries, but it is also illegal to sell tickets for foreign lotteries across international borders.