FBI warns of lottery scam targeting Georgia residents

ATLANTA - The FBI has issued a warning about a Mega Millions Lottery scam targeting Georgia residents.

According to a press release, officials say people will receive a letter in the mail stating that they've won the lottery. The document will instruct them to wire thousands of dollars to the "lottery official" in order to secure their winnings.

The letter is printed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp letterhead to give a sense of authentication, officials said.

In a recent scam targeting a southern Georgia resident, a photo purporting to show three FBI agents was sent as further proof of its legitimacy.

Residents are urged to beware of scams that require advance fees via wire transfer or other means that make halting or tracing the transaction almost impossible. Furthermore, officials said federal agencies will never provide authentication on such matters.