A number of New Hampshire adults are getting the same call: you’ve won the lottery, but you must pay an upfront fee before you can collect your prize money. 

These “winners” never entered a contest in the first place. It’s a scam targeting the state’s older adult population, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, which also said fraudulent claims are on the rise. 

In the last seven days, the state department has received an unusually high number of reports – equal to what they see in a month, according to Michael Garrity, director of communications. 

In two reports, scammers demanded the target pay them $8,500 in incremental payments. 

Scammers often ask to be paid by wire transfer, Bitcoin ATM or through prepaid gift or debit cards. 

Attorney General John Formella said residents should be aware that to win a contest, they must first have entered. Any call indicating a cash prize for a lottery or sweepstakes contest the recipient did not enroll in is the first sign of a scam. 

For those who do enter lottery contests or sweepstakes, there is never a fee to collect prize money. 

Scam calls have included false claims that the recipient won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. However, the sweepstakes company never calls winners. Instead, they send their cash prizes by mail or in person. 

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to this or another scam, immediately report it to your local police department, the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the Attorney General’s Office at (603) 271-3641, or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Adult and Aging Services at 1-800-949-0470. Complaints may also be made to the Consumer Hotline by email at doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints/index.htm.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, hang up and report the scam to 1-800-392-4190.