The STARS Lottery scam is the subject of a warning from Regina police about scam calls. If a caller mentions the lottery, take time to check the claim independently before sharing personal details, paying money or following instructions.
The warning concerns calls, but the exact approach can vary. A caller might use a real organization’s name to make a conversation sound credible. A call using the STARS Lottery name should not be treated as genuine just because the caller sounds confident or knows some details about you.
What the STARS Lottery scam can look like
Lottery scams often begin with a call saying the person who answers has won a prize or has been selected for an award. The caller may then ask for personal information, banking details or a payment before the supposed winnings can be released. These are common tactics in lottery scams generally; they are not details confirmed about the specific calls in Regina.
A caller may try to keep the conversation moving quickly, encourage you to stay on the phone or discourage you from checking the story with someone else. They may ask you to pay a fee, provide account information, share a verification code or arrange a transfer. Do not assume these requests are legitimate because the caller uses the STARS Lottery name.
Some callers may also ask you to press a key, call another number, open a website or follow instructions in a text or email. Treat these as unverified requests. Do not rely on a phone number, link or contact detail supplied during the call to confirm that the caller is who they claim to be.
A scam call can involve more than one contact. Someone may call back pretending to be a supervisor, a lottery representative or another trusted person. A familiar-sounding name, repeated calls or polished explanations do not prove that a prize or request is real.
The name of a real lottery or organization can be misused by someone making a fraudulent call. That does not mean the organization named in the call is responsible for the scam. If you are unsure, end the call and use a contact method you find independently to ask whether the claim is genuine.
Lottery scam call warning signs
- You are told you have won unexpectedly. Pause before responding to an unsolicited call about a prize, especially if you do not remember entering.
- You are asked to pay to receive a prize. Be wary of requests for fees, taxes, delivery costs or other payments before winnings are released.
- The caller wants sensitive information. Do not give out banking details, passwords, account sign-in information or verification codes during an unexpected call.
- You are urged to act immediately. Pressure to decide, pay or provide information without checking is a reason to stop the conversation.
- You are told to keep the call secret. A request not to speak with family, your bank or another trusted person can be a way to prevent you from getting a second opinion.
- The caller directs you to a number or link they provide. Do not use those details as proof. Find a legitimate contact route independently.
- The caller asks you to move or transfer money. Do not follow instructions to send funds, buy gift cards or otherwise make a payment to claim a supposed prize.
- The story changes or does not add up. End the call if the caller cannot clearly explain the claim or gives conflicting instructions.
What to do if you’ve been targeted
- End the call. You do not need to argue, answer questions or stay on the line. Do not press buttons, open links or call back using contact details the caller supplied.
- Do not pay or share more information. If you have not given anything, keep it that way while you verify the claim. A caller’s insistence that a payment or secret code is required does not make the request safe.
- Check the claim independently. Look up the organization’s official contact information yourself, using a trusted source you reach separately from the call. Ask whether the call and any prize claim are genuine. Do not rely on caller ID alone, since a displayed number may not establish who is calling.
- Tell someone you trust. A family member, friend or support worker can help you review what was said and decide what to do next. This can be especially helpful if the caller is pressuring you to act quickly or keep the conversation private.
- Keep a record. Write down what you remember, including the time of the call, the caller’s claims, any contact details they gave and what information or money you shared. Keep related voicemails and messages. Do not call the suspicious number to gather more details.
- If you shared banking details or sent money, contact your bank or payment provider promptly. Use the number on your bank card, statement or official banking app. Explain what happened, ask what steps can protect your accounts and follow the provider’s advice. If you shared a password, change it through the official service and change it anywhere else you reused it.
- Secure affected accounts. If you provided a password or sign-in code, update your password using the genuine service and review account activity. Do not share any new verification code with someone who calls you, even if they claim to be helping you recover money.
- Watch for follow-up approaches. After a suspicious call, another person may contact you claiming they can recover money or resolve the problem for a fee. Verify any such offer independently and do not send more money to get supposed funds back.
How to report a STARS Lottery scam call
Report the call to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. You can report a suspicious attempt even if you did not lose money. Include the caller’s claims and any steps you took, but do not put yourself at further risk to collect evidence.
Contact your local police to report the incident, particularly if you lost money, shared sensitive information or feel threatened. If money or banking details were involved, contact your bank as soon as possible as well; reporting to police or the Anti-Fraud Centre does not replace telling your financial institution.
If you are in Regina, the police warning is a reminder to treat unexpected STARS Lottery calls cautiously and verify claims independently. A calm pause, a call to a trusted official contact and a prompt report can help limit further harm.
Source: Regina police warning public of STARS Lottery Scam calls – CTV News
Reviewed by our editorial team on .
The Scam Alert Team tracks fraud targeting Canadians and turns official warnings into clear, practical advice. Our team has a background in IT and cybersecurity, and every article is fact-checked against official sources before publication. How we verify alerts