Prize & Lottery Scam
Messages claiming you won a prize you never entered
How this scam works
Messages claim you've won a lottery, sweepstakes, or prize that you never entered. To claim your prize, you must pay "processing fees", "taxes", or provide personal information. Once you pay, the scammer disappears — there was never any prize.
These scams often impersonate well-known brands, lottery organizations, or claim to be international prize draws. The prize amounts are unrealistically high.
Warning signs
- ⚠️You "won" something you never entered
- ⚠️Requires payment to claim prize (fee, tax, shipping)
- ⚠️Creates urgency: "Claim within 48 hours or prize expires"
- ⚠️Claims to be from international lottery or major brand
- ⚠️Asks for personal details, bank information, or ID
- ⚠️Uses free email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo) for contact
Real examples
“Congratulations! You have been selected as the winner of $500,000 in the International Sweepstakes. To claim, send processing fee of $99.”
You can't win a lottery you didn't enter. Legitimate prizes never require upfront payment.
“Amazon Winner Notification: Your email was selected for our annual prize of $100,000! Pay $50 shipping to receive your prize check.”
Amazon doesn't run email lotteries. No legitimate prize requires payment.
What to do
- ✓You cannot win a lottery you didn't enter
- ✓Legitimate prizes never require payment to claim
- ✓Major companies don't run random email/phone lotteries
- ✓Never send money to claim a prize
- ✓Report to FTC (US) or equivalent authority