Both the Regina and Moose Jaw police services are warning the public about a STARS Lottery phone scam that has been circulating.

The caller claims to represent STARS Air Ambulance and explains to the victim that they have won a new vehicle or a cash prize. The fraudster will then try to get them to send payment, often in the form of a money order or gift cards, in order to claim their prize.

The agencies remind the public that legitimate organizations, such as STARS, will never ask for payment to claim a prize. Sharing personal or financial information over the phone, by email, or through unfamiliar sites is never a good idea, and you should be sure to verify the source before clicking on links or responding to any ads.

Remember to hang up and contact the organization directly if something feels off. However, once you have been victimized, be careful of ‘recovery’ schemes. A scammer connected to the first scammer may promise to be able to recover your lost funds for a fee.