“You’ve Won!” How to Spot Fake Prize, Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams
“Congratulations, you’ve won!” It is exciting to hear, which is exactly why scammers use it. Fake prize, sweepstakes and lottery messages arrive by phone, text, email, letter and social media. The prize might be cash, a car or a gift card. The catch is always the same: you have to pay or share personal information to collect it.
How These Scams Usually Work
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the caller or letter may claim to be from a well-known company, a government agency or an official-sounding “prize bureau.” They say you must pay a fee for taxes, shipping or processing before the prize can be released. They often want the money fast, and in a form that is hard to trace or get back.
Some send a real-looking check first and ask you to send part of it back. Later the check bounces, and the money you sent is gone.
Red Flags to Watch For
- You have to pay anything to get a prize. Real sweepstakes are free.
- You are asked to pay to “improve your odds” of winning.
- Someone asks for your bank account, credit card or Social Security number.
- You are told you won a foreign lottery, especially one you never entered.
- There is pressure to act right now, before a deadline.
- They want payment by gift card, wire transfer, cash, payment app or cryptocurrency.
The FTC is clear: legitimate sweepstakes never require you to pay or buy something to enter or to collect a prize.
What to Do Instead
- Don’t reply, click any link or call any number in the message.
- If you want to check, look up the real company’s phone number yourself and call it. You can also search the company name with words like “scam” or “complaint.”
- Talk it over with someone you trust before you do anything else.
- Delete the message or throw away the letter.
If You Already Paid
Please don’t feel embarrassed. These scams are designed to fool smart, careful people. Act quickly: contact your bank or the company you used to pay and ask them to stop or reverse the payment. If you gave out personal information, IdentityTheft.gov has a step-by-step recovery plan.
How to Report It
- The FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Your state attorney general’s office
- The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, if the offer came in the mail
- The DOJ National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), for people 60 and older, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern
- The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 for free support, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern
More on Seniors Tips
- Paid a Scammer? What to Do Right Away
- Government Impostor Scams: How to Spot Fake Social Security, IRS, and Medicare Calls
