Receiving a message that says you've won a lottery, sweepstakes, or prize can be exciting, but it may be a scam.

Lottery scammers often contact people by phone, email, text message, social media, or even regular mail claiming they've won a large cash prize. They ask for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency—methods that are difficult to trace and nearly impossible to reverse. 

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How the scam works

  • The win arrives unannounced. A call, letter, or message says you've won, sometimes from an official-sounding name like the "National Sweepstakes Bureau."
  • A fee stands between you and the prize. You're told to pay "taxes," "shipping," "customs," or a "processing fee" before the winnings can be released.
  • The fees keep coming. Once you pay the first one, walking away means losing what you've already sent, so a second fee appears, then a third. Each feels like the final step before the payout.
  • They pick payment methods that can't be undone. Gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, all nearly impossible to trace or reverse.
  • Sometimes they send you a check first. It's meant to "cover fees." You deposit it, wire part of it back, and weeks later the check bounces, leaving you on the hook.

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Remember

  • Real prizes don't require upfront payments. If you have to pay money to collect winnings, it's a scam. 
  • No one can charge you to improve your odds. Charging you to enter or to boost your chances is illegal, so anyone asking is a scammer. 
  • You cannot win a lottery you never entered.
  • A foreign lottery is always a red flag. It's illegal for U.S. residents to play one, so anyone offering is not on your side. 
  • No legitimate prize requires your Social Security number or bank account to "release" it. 

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What You Should Do

  • Stop communicating with the sender
  • Do not click links or open attachments
  • Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers
  • Do not share banking, credit card, or personal information

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If a prize notification seems too good to be true, it probably is. Take a moment to verify the claim before sending money or sharing personal information. 

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