Foreign Lotteries You hear the state lotto jingle on the radio. The jackpot has been raised to $10 million. You’ve got lotto fever! Next thing you know there’s a brochure in your mailbox urging you to participate in some foreign country’s lottery — maybe one in Australia or Canada — via the convenient mail-order purchase of lottery tickets, or of a share in a pool of lottery tickets. We’ve got a hot tip for you: Don’t fall for it! Here’s why: It’s illegal. A federal statute prohibits mailing payments to purchase any ticket, share, or chance in a foreign lottery. Except for state-owned and -operated lotteries, federal law prohibits sending lottery material through the mail. It’s probably a scam. Most — if not all — foreign lottery come-ons sent to U.S. addresses through the mail are bogus. They don’t come from foreign government agencies or licensees. Instead, they come from con artists who take your money and give you nothing in return.