Georgia Lottery officials are warning of a scam involving the Scratchers game.

With the scam, scratch-off tickets are made to look like winning tickets and sold at a discount, lottery officials said Friday in a news release. People who buy the altered tickets find out they were scammed when they try to claim the prize.

Lottery players can take the following precautions:

• Only buy Georgia Lottery tickets from an official lottery retailer. People also can buy tickets via the app or online at www.galottery.com.

• Never pay cash to someone offering to sell a “winning ticket.”

“We always want our players to be informed and be aware,” Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin said.

Those with questions or security concerns can call a toll-free hotline at 1-800-GA-LUCKY (1-800-425-8259). Additional information is on the website at https://www.galottery.com/en-us/player-zone/avoid-lottery-scams.html

In other news:

A small plane crashed into a tree while students were in class.

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Thousands of UGA students enjoy during the annual “Frat Beach” party for the weekend of the Georgia-Florida football game on St. Simons Island, Friday, November 1, 2024. On the weekend of the Georgia-Florida football game, St. Simons Island’s East Beach becomes “Frat Beach,” an open-air party teeming with thousands of highly inebriated college students. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC