Lottery & Sweepstakes Scams

eniors are often told they've won a large sum of money in a sweepstakes or lottery but need to pay taxes, processing fees, or other costs upfront to claim the prize. Once the payment is made, no prize ever arrives, and the scammers disappear.

You receive an official-looking letter or email informing you that you’ve won a large cash prize. The message sounds legitimate, and you’re excited! However, you’re told that to claim the prize, you must first pay taxes or administrative fees. Eager to collect your winnings, you wire the money or send prepaid gift cards, but the prize never materializes.

• You Didn’t Enter a Contest: If you’re told you’ve won a sweepstakes or lottery that you never entered, it’s a clear sign of a scam. Legitimate sweepstakes don’t award prizes to non-participants.
• Request for Upfront Fees: If you’re asked to pay taxes, processing fees, or other charges before receiving your winnings, it’s a scam. Legitimate sweepstakes never require payment to claim a prize.
• Untraceable Payment Methods: Be wary of requests to pay fees via gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. These methods are often used by scammers because they’re difficult to trace.
• Urgency and Pressure: Scammers may tell you that you need to act quickly or risk losing the prize. Legitimate prize awards allow time for processing without such pressure.
• Suspicious Letters or Emails: If you receive a letter or email that looks official but contains spelling errors, strange email addresses, or unusual formatting, it’s likely fraudulent.

Additional Warning:
Always verify sweepstakes or lottery wins through official channels. Never provide personal or financial information without first confirming the legitimacy of the prize.