LOTTERY AND SWEEPSTAKES SCAMS

Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams

Prize scammers try to get your money or personal information through fake lotteries, sweepstakes, or other contests. Many claim that you’ve won a prize but must pay a fee to collect it. Others require you to provide personal information to enter a “contest.” These scams may reach you by postal mail, email, phone call, robocall, or text message.

Remember these tips to avoid being a victim of a lottery or sweepstakes scam:

Do

• Ask yourself if you entered a particular contest. If you didn’t enter it, the prize notice is likely a fake.

• Some scammers use the names of organizations that run real sweepstakes. Research the company's contact information. Contact them to verify if the prize is legitimate.

• Register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. You may register online or by calling 1-888-382-1222. If you still receive telemarketing calls after registering, there’s a good chance that the calls are scams.

• Report spam text messages to your mobile carrier, then delete them.

• Hang up on suspicious calls.

Don’t

• Don’t pay a fee, taxes, or shipping charges to receive a prize.

• Don’t wire money to, or deposit a check from, any organization claiming to run a sweepstakes or lottery.

• Don’t provide your credit card number or bank account information to receive a prize.

• Don’t believe someone just because they say they’re from the government or an official-sounding organization.

• Don’t reply to, or click on any links in, a spam text message.

• Don’t give in to pressure to take immediate action.

• Don’t believe anyone claiming to be from a foreign lottery or sweepstakes. It’s illegal to enter foreign contests like these.