National Lottery alert issued across thousands of shops as mysterious fraudster at large

Thousands of shop owners have received an alert about a suspected fraudster impersonating a sales rep to target National Lottery retailers. A warning, seen by Better Retailing, describes an individual who is not an Allwyn employee but attempts to gain staff's trust by displaying a counterfeit company pass. The suspect is said to be looking to gain access to scratchcard stock - then tries to validate prizes from packs believed to be stolen. Shop staff have been told to immediately ask anyone using the name "Dean Farquharson" to leave their premises and contact the National Lottery retailer hotline. The individual is also reported to use the alias "Paul Cox" and may claim to be standing in for a local retail sales executive. A description provided in the notice says the suspect sometimes wears a flat cap and carries a rucksack with a camouflage pattern. He has also been observed using National Lottery-branded items like a polo shirt and notebook. Retailers in London have now been told to reject any requests to validate scratchcards by "Paul" or "Dean". The warning notes that Allwyn can declare a Scratchcard invalid if it is reasonably believed to have been stolen - and can even withhold prize payments altogether. An Allwyn spokesman confirmed the company had issued reminders to retailers in certain parts of the capital. "National Lottery retailers across selected areas of London have recently been reminded to stay vigilant. "They are advised to follow established security procedures if approached by anyone they do not recognise as an authorised representative of Allwyn," the spokesman told Better Retailing. NATIONAL LOTTERY - READ THE LATEST: National Lottery undergoes upgrade with new draw set to be unveiled within weeks National Lottery winner scoops £1m jackpot after playing his late father's lucky numbers National Lottery issues urgent plea for winner of mega jackpot as only TWO WEEKS left to claim pot "This communication forms part of our ongoing efforts to protect both retailers and customers from potential fraudulent activity. "While we do not comment on individual cases, we remain committed to working closely with retailers and relevant authorities to ensure the integrity and security of National Lottery games in stores." Retailers with suspicions about anyone purporting to represent Allwyn can call the dedicated hotline on 0800 8 40 50 60. Industry guidance tells shop owners to be extra careful with verifying their customers' identities, limiting access to secure stock, and sticking to official validation protocols. Shops are also being encouraged to inform their staff about the warning and restrict scratchcard handling and terminal access to authorised personnel only. The full extent of the suspected fraud remains unknown. Britons buy an estimated one billion National Lottery scratchers every year. The state-franchised company typically dishes out over £4billion in prize money to players annually. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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