Lottery & Prize Scams
You're told you won a lottery or prize you never entered, then asked to pay a fee to release it.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
An advance-fee scam. You're told you won a lottery, sweepstakes, or big prize — but before you can collect it, you have to pay a 'processing', 'clearance', or 'tax' fee, or hand over personal and banking details. The prize does not exist; the fee and your information go straight to the scammer.
What it usually looks like
- A call, text, email, or letter saying you won a lottery or sweepstakes you never entered.
- A well-known name (Publishers Clearing House, a 'Mega Draw', a foreign lottery) used to look legitimate.
- Instructions to keep the win confidential until you've paid.
Common warning signs
- You have to pay money to receive your 'winnings'.
- You're asked to send the fee by gift card, wire, Zelle, or cryptocurrency.
- You never entered the lottery or contest in the first place.
Example wording scammers use
“CONGRATULATIONS! You've won $850,000 in the Mega Draw. To release your funds, send a $250 processing fee.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- An up-front 'fee' you can never get back, plus your personal and banking details.
What to do
- Remember: a real prize never requires you to pay to receive it.
- Don't send any money or share bank details, and don't reply.
- Delete the message, or report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
What to do if you already responded
- Contact your bank or the payment service you used right away.
- If you shared personal details, watch for identity theft and consider a credit freeze.
- Report it to the FTC and keep any messages as a record.