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Consumer Authority receives over three hundred reports of misleading lotteries

In the last few months, the Netherlands Consumer Authority has received over three hundred notifications on its hotline from consumers who have fallen victim to misleading lotteries and prize offers. Examples include:

  • prize offers where the consumer is told he can win a prize, but has to place an order before he can claim the prize
  • businesses that approach consumers because they have won a prize in a lottery. The consumers have to transfer a sum of money in order to claim the prize.

The Consumer Authority investigates reports of misleading practices itself, if necessary in cooperation with foreign regulators. Reports involving fraud are sent to the Public Prosecution Service. The Consumer Authority hopes to have completed its initial investigations into misleading lotteries by the end of the year.

Marije Hulshof of the Consumer Authority: "It is good that so many people have taken the trouble to report their experiences to us. This helps us tackle these objectionable practices. In addition, it is important that people continue to be alert to avoid becoming victims of these practices."

To warn consumers against misleading lotteries and prize offers, the Consumer Authority launched a campaign at the beginning of March with the motto: "If it seems too good to be true, it isn't". A hotline where people could report their experiences was opened on ConsuWijzer, the consumers' information website.

Some important tips:

  • You can never win a prize in a lottery for which you haven't purchased a ticket. Ignore e-mails or letters that refer to such lotteries and promise big prizes.
  • Never pay to claim a prize. If you really had won a prize, you wouldn't have to pay to claim it.
  • Misleading lotteries often use names and/or logos of lotteries that are legally established in the Netherlands. For a list of licensed lotteries in the Netherlands, see the website toezichtkansspelen.nl
  • Only enter personal details on websites you trust, or phone to check whether the site is legitimate.

https://www.toezichtkansspelen.nl/

Although the hotline on ConsuWijzer is now closed, notification is still possible using the standard form.

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