DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in 
Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot 
after more than three months without anyone hitting the top prize.

The
 winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw 
studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the 
red Powerball was 10.

The jackpot ticket was sold at Joe’s Service
 Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills 
northeast of Los Angeles. A voicemail left for Joe’s Service Center was 
not immediately returned.

The jackpot was by far the largest 
lottery prize ever won, topping the previous record $1.586 billion prize
 won by three Powerball ticketholders in 2016. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-d074aec16d0f17eba2cc51c814faa99e">Only four previous jackpots</a>
 have topped $1 billion, but none of those are close to the current 
prize, which started at $20 million back on Aug. 6 and over three 
winless months has grown massive. No one has won the jackpot since Aug. 
3.

The jackpot was initially reported as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-today-what-to-know-75a57b3d83a5c5d1e0264c55261671cf">an estimated $1.9 billion</a> on Monday, but the prize was increased to $2.04 billion Tuesday morning after updated calculations.

The
 Multi-State Lottery Association said Monday night’s scheduled drawing 
was delayed by nearly 10 hours until Tuesday because a participating 
lottery had issues processing sales.

The problems in holding a 
drawing Monday night were blamed on one participating lottery's 
inability to process its sales data. After the lottery, which wasn't 
identified, completed its pre-draw procedures, the drawing was able to 
go ahead.

“Protecting the integrity of the draw is of upmost 
importance, and we were able to do that during this historic drawing 
with the cooperation of all participating lotteries,” said Drew Svitko, 
the chairman of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of 
the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Terry Rich, a former director of the 
Iowa Lottery who also served on the Powerball board, said the delay was 
likely due to a two-part verification system of ticket sales that makes 
use of an outside vendor to ensure all is in order before the game's 
numbers are drawn.

“Each state must verify through a dual process 
that all of the sales and dollars match before the Multi-State Lottery 
Association can do the draw," said Rich, who headed the Iowa Lottery for
 10 years and was president of the North American Lottery Association. 
“This is a state-by-state procedure, which separates the whole process 
and has been very effective."

Rich said state lotteries deal with 
similar problems several times a year but the delays usually don't 
attract much attention because the potential jackpots are far less than 
was up for grabs this week.

The winning numbers and recorded video of the drawing were posted to the Powerball's YouTube channel.

The $2.04 billion prize is for a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">winner who chooses an annuity</a>, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners instead opt for cash, which was valued at $997.6 million.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

The game is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667933043117.jpeg" alt="AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes" />
 <figcaption>AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in 
Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot 
after more than three months without anyone hitting the top prize.The
 winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw 
studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the 
red Powerball was 10.The jackpot ticket was sold at Joe’s Service
 Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills 
northeast of Los Angeles. A voicemail left for Joe’s Service Center was 
not immediately returned.The jackpot was by far the largest 
lottery prize ever won, topping the previous record $1.586 billion prize
 won by three Powerball ticketholders in 2016. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-d074aec16d0f17eba2cc51c814faa99e">Only four previous jackpots</a>
 have topped $1 billion, but none of those are close to the current 
prize, which started at $20 million back on Aug. 6 and over three 
winless months has grown massive. No one has won the jackpot since Aug. 
3.The jackpot was initially reported as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-today-what-to-know-75a57b3d83a5c5d1e0264c55261671cf">an estimated $1.9 billion</a> on Monday, but the prize was increased to $2.04 billion Tuesday morning after updated calculations.The
 Multi-State Lottery Association said Monday night’s scheduled drawing 
was delayed by nearly 10 hours until Tuesday because a participating 
lottery had issues processing sales.The problems in holding a 
drawing Monday night were blamed on one participating lottery's 
inability to process its sales data. After the lottery, which wasn't 
identified, completed its pre-draw procedures, the drawing was able to 
go ahead.“Protecting the integrity of the draw is of upmost 
importance, and we were able to do that during this historic drawing 
with the cooperation of all participating lotteries,” said Drew Svitko, 
the chairman of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of 
the Pennsylvania Lottery.Terry Rich, a former director of the 
Iowa Lottery who also served on the Powerball board, said the delay was 
likely due to a two-part verification system of ticket sales that makes 
use of an outside vendor to ensure all is in order before the game's 
numbers are drawn.“Each state must verify through a dual process 
that all of the sales and dollars match before the Multi-State Lottery 
Association can do the draw," said Rich, who headed the Iowa Lottery for
 10 years and was president of the North American Lottery Association. 
“This is a state-by-state procedure, which separates the whole process 
and has been very effective."Rich said state lotteries deal with 
similar problems several times a year but the delays usually don't 
attract much attention because the potential jackpots are far less than 
was up for grabs this week.The winning numbers and recorded video of the drawing were posted to the Powerball's YouTube channel.The $2.04 billion prize is for a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">winner who chooses an annuity</a>, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners instead opt for cash, which was valued at $997.6 million.The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.The game is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball ticket sold in California snags record $2.04B win

WASHINGTON — In fiscal year 2022, IRS Criminal Investigation 
initiated more than 2,550 criminal investigations, identified over $31 
billion from tax and financial crimes, and obtained a 90.6% conviction 
rate on cases accepted for prosecution. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3583.pdf">IRS-CI FY22 Annual Report</a>PDF,
 released Thursday, details these statistics, as well as important 
partnerships and significant criminal enforcement actions from the past 
fiscal year, which began October 1, 2021, and ended September 30, 2022.

"The cases the IRS-CI team investigated over the past fiscal year 
touch multiple continents and require cooperation with partners around 
the globe. This is why IRS-CI continues to cement itself as the 
preeminent law enforcement agency investigating financial crimes on a 
global scale," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig.

In FY22, IRS-CI expanded partnerships with foreign counterparts to 
help combat tax and financial crimes on a global level. IRS-CI special 
agents delivered trainings in countries like Argentina, Germany, 
Colombia, and Palau on topics ranging from cybercrime to human 
trafficking. IRS-CI Mexico City, after changes to Mexico law that 
enabled the extradition of tax fugitives, launched an initiative to 
identify fugitives who had absconded to Mexico and nearby countries. 
This initiative resulted in the location of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/irs-ci-mexico-city-initiative-locates-79-criminal-fugitives-in-first-year">79 criminal fugitives and the apprehension of eight during the first year</a>.

IRS-CI joined <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-announces-launch-task-force-kleptocapture">Taskforce Kleptocapture</a> in March 2022 to target Russian oligarchs and other sanctions-evaders. It also worked with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/joint-chiefs-of-global-tax-enforcement">Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5)</a>
 to identify potential sanction evaders or sanctioned assets as part of a
 global strategy to deter Russia's aggression. As of September 2022, the
 agency had identified nearly 50 individuals and entities for potential 
sanctions-related enforcement.

IRS-CI's 2,077 special agents spent about 70% of their time 
investigating tax-related crimes like tax evasion and tax fraud during 
FY22, while nearly 30% of their time was spent on money laundering and 
drug trafficking cases. Special agents identified over $31 billion from 
tax and financial crimes, and the agency seized assets valued at 
approximately $7 billion in FY22. IRS-CI is the only U.S. federal law 
enforcement agency that focuses 100% on financial investigations.

"Our team follows the money," said IRS-CI Chief Jim Lee. "We've been 
doing it for more than 100 years, and we've followed criminals into the 
dark web and now into the metaverse. Tax and other financial crimes know
 no borders. If you violate the law and end up in the crosshairs of an 
IRS-CI special agent, you are likely going to jail."

The IRS-CI Cyber Crime Unit, with assistance from U.S. authorities, 
traced billions of dollars of Bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex, a 
cryptocurrency exchange, after a 2016 hack. This led to the February 
2022 arrest of Ilya Lichtenstein and his wife, Heather Morgan, for 
alleged conspiracy to launder stolen cryptocurrency. IRS-CI special 
agents lawfully seized and recovered more than 94,000 stolen Bitcoin, 
which was valued at over $3.6 billion at the time, marking the largest 
seizure in U.S. history.

The Tampa Field Office investigated Michael Dexter Little for 
tax-related crimes. He was sentenced to 19 years and six months in 
federal prison in January 2022 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 
conspiracy to commit money laundering and aggravated identity theft. 
Little also had to forfeit at least $12.3 million, traceable to his 
offenses. He filed a series of false tax returns, claiming massive, 
bogus fuel tax credits. He filed the false returns in his own name and 
the names of co-conspirators, as well as identity theft victims. He 
obtained at least $12.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds and attempted 
to obtain at least $27 million more. Little and his co-conspirators used
 scheme proceeds to purchase real estate and other assets for 
themselves.

The Oakland Field Office investigated Jeff and Paulette Carpoff for 
running a billion-dollar fraud scheme centered around DC Solar. 
Investors were duped into investing in DC Solar based on fake financial 
and engineering reports, and the money was used to fund the Carpoffs' 
lavish lifestyle, which included a NASCAR sponsorship, ownership of a 
minor league baseball team, luxury real estate and more. The federal 
government seized and auctioned off 148 of the Carpoffs' vehicles to 
recoup more than $8 million for scheme victims. In November 2021, Jeff 
Carpoff was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and in June, Paulette 
Carpoff was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

The report also includes additional case examples for each U.S. field
 office, an overview of IRS-CI's international footprint, details about 
the specialized services provided by IRS-CI and investigative 
statistics, broken down by discipline, for FY22.

IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for 
conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, 
narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare 
fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only 
federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over 
violations of the Internal Revenue Code, boasting a near 90% federal 
conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across the U.S.
 and 12 attaché posts abroad.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — In fiscal year 2022, IRS Criminal Investigation 
initiated more than 2,550 criminal investigations, identified over $31 
billion from tax and financial crimes, and obtained a 90.6% conviction 
rate on cases accepted for prosecution. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3583.pdf">IRS-CI FY22 Annual Report</a>PDF,
 released Thursday, details these statistics, as well as important 
partnerships and significant criminal enforcement actions from the past 
fiscal year, which began October 1, 2021, and ended September 30, 2022."The cases the IRS-CI team investigated over the past fiscal year 
touch multiple continents and require cooperation with partners around 
the globe. This is why IRS-CI continues to cement itself as the 
preeminent law enforcement agency investigating financial crimes on a 
global scale," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/q44uedBm-KcBmu4K3.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Irs Ci Annual Report Video 2022 (540p)" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>In FY22, IRS-CI expanded partnerships with foreign counterparts to 
help combat tax and financial crimes on a global level. IRS-CI special 
agents delivered trainings in countries like Argentina, Germany, 
Colombia, and Palau on topics ranging from cybercrime to human 
trafficking. IRS-CI Mexico City, after changes to Mexico law that 
enabled the extradition of tax fugitives, launched an initiative to 
identify fugitives who had absconded to Mexico and nearby countries. 
This initiative resulted in the location of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/irs-ci-mexico-city-initiative-locates-79-criminal-fugitives-in-first-year">79 criminal fugitives and the apprehension of eight during the first year</a>.IRS-CI joined <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-announces-launch-task-force-kleptocapture">Taskforce Kleptocapture</a> in March 2022 to target Russian oligarchs and other sanctions-evaders. It also worked with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/joint-chiefs-of-global-tax-enforcement">Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5)</a>
 to identify potential sanction evaders or sanctioned assets as part of a
 global strategy to deter Russia's aggression. As of September 2022, the
 agency had identified nearly 50 individuals and entities for potential 
sanctions-related enforcement.IRS-CI's 2,077 special agents spent about 70% of their time 
investigating tax-related crimes like tax evasion and tax fraud during 
FY22, while nearly 30% of their time was spent on money laundering and 
drug trafficking cases. Special agents identified over $31 billion from 
tax and financial crimes, and the agency seized assets valued at 
approximately $7 billion in FY22. IRS-CI is the only U.S. federal law 
enforcement agency that focuses 100% on financial investigations."Our team follows the money," said IRS-CI Chief Jim Lee. "We've been 
doing it for more than 100 years, and we've followed criminals into the 
dark web and now into the metaverse. Tax and other financial crimes know
 no borders. If you violate the law and end up in the crosshairs of an 
IRS-CI special agent, you are likely going to jail."<h2>Case examples include:</h2>The IRS-CI Cyber Crime Unit, with assistance from U.S. authorities, 
traced billions of dollars of Bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex, a 
cryptocurrency exchange, after a 2016 hack. This led to the February 
2022 arrest of Ilya Lichtenstein and his wife, Heather Morgan, for 
alleged conspiracy to launder stolen cryptocurrency. IRS-CI special 
agents lawfully seized and recovered more than 94,000 stolen Bitcoin, 
which was valued at over $3.6 billion at the time, marking the largest 
seizure in U.S. history.The Tampa Field Office investigated Michael Dexter Little for 
tax-related crimes. He was sentenced to 19 years and six months in 
federal prison in January 2022 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 
conspiracy to commit money laundering and aggravated identity theft. 
Little also had to forfeit at least $12.3 million, traceable to his 
offenses. He filed a series of false tax returns, claiming massive, 
bogus fuel tax credits. He filed the false returns in his own name and 
the names of co-conspirators, as well as identity theft victims. He 
obtained at least $12.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds and attempted 
to obtain at least $27 million more. Little and his co-conspirators used
 scheme proceeds to purchase real estate and other assets for 
themselves.The Oakland Field Office investigated Jeff and Paulette Carpoff for 
running a billion-dollar fraud scheme centered around DC Solar. 
Investors were duped into investing in DC Solar based on fake financial 
and engineering reports, and the money was used to fund the Carpoffs' 
lavish lifestyle, which included a NASCAR sponsorship, ownership of a 
minor league baseball team, luxury real estate and more. The federal 
government seized and auctioned off 148 of the Carpoffs' vehicles to 
recoup more than $8 million for scheme victims. In November 2021, Jeff 
Carpoff was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and in June, Paulette 
Carpoff was sentenced to 11 years in prison.The report also includes additional case examples for each U.S. field
 office, an overview of IRS-CI's international footprint, details about 
the specialized services provided by IRS-CI and investigative 
statistics, broken down by discipline, for FY22.IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for 
conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, 
narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare 
fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only 
federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over 
violations of the Internal Revenue Code, boasting a near 90% federal 
conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across the U.S.
 and 12 attaché posts abroad.

🎥 IRS: More than 2,500 investigations, 90% conviction rate for 2022 tax crimes

If you’ve bought something from <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/santa-monica/profile/mobile-apps/tiktok-1216-1074502" target="_blank">TikTok</a> recently, you aren’t alone. According to <a href="https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/nearly-half-of-tiktokers-are-buying-stuff-from-brands-they-see-on-the-platform/" target="_blank">one study</a>, 49% of users reported purchasing something they saw on the app. The social platform began offering <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/24/tiktok-expands-shopify-partnership-pilots-tiktok-shopping-in-us-uk-and-canada/" target="_blank">in-app shopping last year</a> and is now expanding to “Live Shopping,” allowing creators and brands to sell goods directly through videos.

While TikTok may be a good way to snag a deal promoted by your favorite <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22242-social-media-influencers-how-theyre-changing-the-marketplace-and-tips-to-avoid-fraud" target="_blank">influencer</a>, <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ikrd/tiktok-shop-customers-say-products-fake" target="_blank">phony products</a>, less-than-scrupulous sellers, and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/27566-bbb-scam-alert-cryptocurrency-investment-scams-take-to-tiktok" target="_blank">outright scams</a> are also common. As shopping on TikTok expands, here’s how to have a positive shopping experience and avoid cons.

Here’s what you should know about shopping on TikTok.

BBBIf you’ve bought something from <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/santa-monica/profile/mobile-apps/tiktok-1216-1074502" target="_blank">TikTok</a> recently, you aren’t alone. According to <a href="https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/nearly-half-of-tiktokers-are-buying-stuff-from-brands-they-see-on-the-platform/" target="_blank">one study</a>, 49% of users reported purchasing something they saw on the app. The social platform began offering <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/24/tiktok-expands-shopify-partnership-pilots-tiktok-shopping-in-us-uk-and-canada/" target="_blank">in-app shopping last year</a> and is now expanding to “Live Shopping,” allowing creators and brands to sell goods directly through videos.While TikTok may be a good way to snag a deal promoted by your favorite <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22242-social-media-influencers-how-theyre-changing-the-marketplace-and-tips-to-avoid-fraud" target="_blank">influencer</a>, <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ikrd/tiktok-shop-customers-say-products-fake" target="_blank">phony products</a>, less-than-scrupulous sellers, and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/27566-bbb-scam-alert-cryptocurrency-investment-scams-take-to-tiktok" target="_blank">outright scams</a> are also common. As shopping on TikTok expands, here’s how to have a positive shopping experience and avoid cons.<h2>Tips for shopping on TikTok </h2>Here’s what you should know about shopping on TikTok. <ul>
 <li>Avoid impulse buys. With TikTok and many other 
social media platforms, making a purchase can be as simple as clicking 
on the product and clicking “buy.” Before you buy something based on a 
30-second video, think it through. Some experts recommend <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/26/heres-why-you-probably-bought-something-you-saw-on-tiktok.html" target="_blank">waiting 48 hours</a>
 between adding an item to your cart and checking out. In addition, you 
can use the extra time to research the product and seller and make sure 
the purchase won’t throw off <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/4666-create-a-budget-and-stick-to-it" target="_blank">your budget</a>. </li><li>Always research the seller. Make sure the seller 
has plenty of account engagement, which means they have followers who 
comment on their posts and review their products. If the seller has a 
website, visit it and look for the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-identify-a-fake-website" target="_blank">red flags of a scam website</a>. Do an <a href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2022/social-media-scams-soared-last-year.html" target="_blank">online search</a>
 of the company name and the words “complaint” or “scam.” Adding those 
keywords can bring any reports of suspicious behavior to your attention. </li><li>Pay close attention to consumer reviews. Reviews 
can help you determine the quality of the product and how well the 
business handles customer service. Read reviews on TikTok, on the 
company or individual’s website, and on sites like <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> to make sure what you read is impartial and comes from real buyers. </li><li>Keep an eye on product descriptions. Some sellers 
might offer what appears to be a great deal on a name brand or viral 
product, but don’t forget to read the fine print. The <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/online-shopping" target="_blank">Federal Trade Commission</a>
 reminds consumers that if the product description contains words like 
“refurbished,” “vintage,” or “close-out,” you might be getting a 
second-hand or imperfect item. </li><li>Watch out for scams. You may find high-dollar items
 for sale on TikTok for highly reduced prices, but these offers could 
indicate an outright scam. Some TikTok users have reported purchasing a 
product only to receive a <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ikrd/tiktok-shop-customers-say-products-fake" target="_blank">fake product</a> in the mail. Remember that too-good-to-be-true deals usually are. Besides unusually low prices, <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/26050-bbb-warning-watch-out-for-counterfeit-items-when-shopping-online-this-holiday-season" target="_blank">grammatical errors and missing contact information</a> could also indicate you’re looking at a scammer’s social media shop. </li><li>Understand return policies and keep good records. Before
 you make a purchase, get to know the seller’s return and refund 
policies. Keep records of your transactions in case you need them to get
 a refund or to hold the seller accountable. </li><li>Unhappy with a purchase? Act quickly. According to TikTok terms of service, buyers have six days
 from when a product is marked as “delivered” to make a return or refund
 request. After that, shoppers need directly communicate with the seller
 or email <a href="mailto:e-commerce@tiktok.com">e-commerce@tiktok.com</a> for customer support. Learn more about <a href="https://seller-id.tiktok.com/university/article?knowledge_id=10000852&amp;identity=1" target="_blank">the TikTok shopping guidelines</a>. </li><li>Pay by credit card. Using your credit card for 
online purchases is always a good idea. It’s much easier to contest a 
fraudulent charge and get your money back on a credit card than with a 
debit card.</li>
 </ul>

Misc