Consumer Alert

Beware of phony Prize Notice to the "State of Alaska Commissioners of Registrations."

The Consumer Protection Unit has received a report of a sweepstakes scam targeting Alaskan residents. The "Registration Advisory" claims the recipient will receive a cash prize of over three million dollars by mailing in a claim form with a payment of $20. The advisory also claims to be a "priority dispatch" to the "State of Alaska Commissioners of Registration." There is no such state agency, and there is no such multi-million dollar prize.

Remember that legitimate sweepstakes never tell you that you have to pay any upfront fees, including "taxes," "transfer fees," "customs fees," or "insurance fees" in order to get your prize.

• View an example of the "registration advisory" being sent to Alaskans - PDF(416KB)
• For more information, view the Federal Trade Commission publication: New Spin on Sweepstakes Scams.

Consumer Protection Unit
April 2009