Lottery & Prize Scams: You Never Pay to Win
A prize or lottery scam says you've won money or a big prize — but you must pay a “fee” or “taxes” first to receive it.
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How the prize & lottery scam works
You can't win a lottery you never entered, and real prizes never require an upfront payment. Any fee you send is lost, and “paying” often just reveals your card details.
Red flags to watch for
- You're told you won a prize or lottery you never entered
- You must pay a fee or taxes before receiving winnings
- Pressure to claim before it “expires”
- A request for card or bank details to “deposit” your prize
What it looks like
“Congratulations! To claim your prize, just pay the $250 processing fee first.”
What to do
- Stop — you never have to pay to receive a genuine prize.
- If you didn't enter, you didn't win.
- Never share card or bank details to “claim” winnings.
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Is it a prize & lottery scam? Check it free.
Paste the call, text, email, or letter and get a plain-English answer in seconds.