Prize / lottery / sweepstakes scam
You are told you won a lottery or sweepstakes — often one you never entered — but must first pay 'taxes' or 'fees' to claim the prize. Real prizes never require upfront payment.
The 'advance fee' structure defines the fraud: any payment required to receive winnings — taxes, customs, courier insurance — is the scam itself, repeated as long as the victim keeps paying. Variants invoke real sweepstakes brands like Publishers Clearing House, which explicitly warns that its genuine prize awards never involve upfront payment. Federal law is unambiguous: legitimate sweepstakes cannot require purchase or payment to enter or claim, and foreign lotteries cannot legally be played by phone from the US at all.
How to recognize it
- 'You've won' calls for contests you never entered
- Upfront fees, taxes, or customs charges to release winnings
- Requests for bank details to 'deposit the prize'
What to do
- Real sweepstakes never charge to deliver a prize
- Never share bank details with a prize caller
- Report to the FTC
Where to report
Sources
FAQ
What should I do first if I suspect a prize / lottery / sweepstakes scam call?
Hang up without pressing anything or confirming any details. Real sweepstakes never charge to deliver a prize. Then report it through the channels listed below.
I already gave the caller money or information — now what?
Act on the money first: contact your bank or card issuer immediately, and if you paid by gift card, call the card company to try freezing the balance. Then file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, if identity data leaked, follow the recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
Does the number that called me identify the scammer?
Usually not — the display is routinely spoofed. Report the number anyway: combined with time and content, it still helps investigators map calling campaigns.