New York State Gaming Commission Warns of Mega Millions Scam as Jackpot Soars

Don’t test your luck against New York scammers!

Mega Millions & Powerball Jackpots Soar in July 2026

Many New York residents are testing their luck and getting in on the current Mega Millions and Powerball drawings.

The current jackpot for Mega Millions (as of July 23rd, 2026) $743 million and the Powerball jackpot sits at $600 million.

Why wouldn’t you want to test your luck!? Maybe because it could lead to getting scammed. The New York State Gaming Commission is warning New Yorkers of an on-going lotto scam.

NYS Gaming Commission Warns of Mega Millions Scam

The New York State Gaming Commission shared a scam alert in a press release earlier this week.

According to their statement there is an “apparent lottery imposter scam targeting residents in multiple states” including New York.

Scammers are calling New Yorkers “claiming to be a high-ranking Mega Millions official based in New York.” The NYS Gaming Commission explains further writing:

The caller tells victims they have won $18.6 million and two new Mercedes-Benz vehicles but must first pay taxes before the prizes can be delivered.

Then the scammers will claim  that the check and car warranties will expire if “they are not delivered immediately.”

We’ve learned over the years if a phone call, email or text sounds too good to be true…it’s most likely a scam.

The NYS Gaming Commission reminds lotto players “Real lotteries don’t reach out to winners.”

Keep Yourself Safe From NY Lotto Scams

In the press release the New York State Gaming Commission shared some tips to keep yourself safe from future lotto scams.

These are some of the more important points to keep in mind if you think you’re being scammed:

• If you are notified about a winning ticket or a big lottery prize unsolicited, this is a scam.
• You cannot win a lottery prize if you did not purchase a lottery ticket.
• The New York Lottery does not know who has won a prize until the winning ticket is presented to the Lottery for payment.
• You can only win a lottery prize by purchasing a ticket from a licensed lottery sales agent, ordering a ticket through a licensed lottery courier service, or purchasing a New York Lottery Subscription.

If you think you’re being contacted by a lottery scammer contact the Lottery’s Subscription Center at 518-388-3370 or contact them by email at gaming.sm.subscriptions@gaming.ny.gov.

Learn more about the on going lotto scam on the New York State Gaming Commission website. 

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