🎰
Lottery & Prize Scams
You've won a lottery you never entered! Just pay the "taxes" or "processing fees" to claim your prize.
$300M+
Annual losses (US)
180,000+ annually (US)
Reported victims/year
Report Now
FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
🎭 How Scammers Do It: Tactics
- ▸ Send email, letter, or text claiming you won a major prize
- ▸ Claim you won foreign lotteries (UK National Lottery, Spanish Lottery)
- ▸ Require upfront payment for taxes, insurance, or processing fees
- ▸ Use official-sounding names and fake government seals
- ▸ Claim you must keep it secret until you have claimed your prize
- ▸ Escalate fees — each payment triggers another required payment
🚩 Red Flags: Stop If You See These
⚠ You won a lottery you never entered
⚠ Must pay fees or taxes upfront to claim prize
⚠ Notification came by email, text, or social media (not certified mail)
⚠ Prize requires secrecy from family and friends
⚠ Requests for personal ID, bank account details, or Social Security number
⚠ Pressure to claim quickly before the prize expires
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself
1. Understand that legitimate lotteries never require upfront payments
2. You cannot win a lottery you did not enter
3. Real prize taxes are deducted from winnings, not paid separately
4. Verify any "official" lottery organization independently
5. Never send money to claim a prize
6. Delete and report lottery scam emails immediately
📋 How to Report This Scam
Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general.