Attorney General Curtis Hill is warning Hoosiers to beware of advertising pitches that mislead consumers into thinking they have won prizes. This tactic is often employed to lure people to locations where they are subjected to used-car sales pitches. Last month, the Office of the Attorney General won a judgment in Marion County Superior Court against The Car Center LLC in connection with such a ploy. Approximately 35,000 people received a deceptive mailing from The Car Center indicating they had won $5,000. The court judgment orders restitution in the total amount of $28,187.76 for six consumers. The judgment also orders The Car Center to pay civil penalties in the amount of $108,500, for a total monetary judgment of $136,687.76. Additionally, The Car Center is enjoined from operating as a motor vehicle dealer in the state of Indiana. The Office of the Attorney General also has pending lawsuits against three promotion companies that design and send advertising mailings deemed deceptive by the Office of the Attorney General. These companies are Traffic Jam Events LLC, Xcel Media Group and Prophecy Marketing. Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a scam or targeted by scammers should file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General at indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516.