Sweepstakes and prize winner scams
These messages say you won a large cash prize or a car in a sweepstakes you never entered. To "release" it, you have to pay taxes or delivery fees, often with gift cards.
How this scam works
The prize is fake. Every fee you pay leads to another fee, and asking you to keep it secret stops family from talking you out of it.
Common versions of the message
- A huge cash prize or a new car
- Fees or taxes to pay first
- Payment by gift card and a request to keep quiet
What the message looks like
Text from +1 (555) 019-8841
CONGRATULATIONS! You have won $2,500,000 and a new Mercedes in the national sweepstakes. To release your prize, pay the $450 delivery and tax fee today with Apple gift cards. Keep this confidential until delivery.
Fictional example based on common, publicly reported scam patterns.
The red flags
- 1
Surprise prize: “You have won $2,500,000”
You cannot win a contest you never entered
You cannot win a contest you never entered.
- 2
Pay to win: “pay the $450 delivery and tax fee”
Real prizes never cost money to collect
Legitimate sweepstakes never make you pay to collect a prize.
- 3
Gift cards: “with Apple gift cards”
No real company takes gift cards as payment
Gift cards are the scammer's favorite payment because they are nearly impossible to trace or reverse.
- 4
Keep it secret: “Keep this confidential”
Secrecy stops family from warning you
Asking you to keep it confidential is how they stop someone you trust from warning you.
What to do
- Do not pay any fee and do not send gift card numbers.
- Tell a family member or friend about the message.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you already replied, clicked, or paid
- If you sent gift card numbers, contact the gift card company right away with the receipt. Sometimes funds can be frozen.
- If you paid by card or bank transfer, call your bank using the number on your card.
- Expect more calls asking for "one last fee". Do not pay again.
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