Lottery / Prize Notification Scam

You receive a letter, call, or email claiming you've won a lottery or sweepstakes you never entered. To claim the prize you must first pay taxes, fees, or customs charges upfront.

The victim receives a letter, phone call, or email announcing they've won a large cash prize, foreign lottery, or sweepstakes, often referencing a contest they don't remember entering. To "release" the winnings, they're told to first pay taxes, customs duties, insurance, or a processing fee, usually via wire transfer or gift card, and once that payment is sent the scammer either disappears or invents another fee, repeating the cycle for as long as the victim keeps paying.

• Notification of winning a contest or lottery you never entered.
• A requirement to pay fees or taxes before receiving the prize.
• Payment requested via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
• Urgency to claim the prize within a short deadline.

• You cannot win a contest you never entered.
• Legitimate prizes never require upfront fees or taxes to claim.
• Winning notifications are never sent by email, phone, or letter.
• The only real lottery is one you purchased a ticket for yourself.