01
Identify the claimed organization.
Write down the exact organization, promotion, lottery, contest or agency the sender claims to represent.
Independent consumer information
Educational resources
Not a government agency
Consumer protection
A legitimate prize should stand up to verification.
Prize scams often rely on urgency, excitement and the appearance of authority. Before sending money, sharing financial information or following unfamiliar instructions, slow the process down and verify the organization independently.
Verification comes before payment or disclosure.
Independent verification
Verify the organization without relying on the notice itself.
A convincing letter, phone call, email or website is not the same as independent confirmation. Use information you locate yourself to verify who is contacting you and why.
02
Find it independently.
Locate the organization through its independently found official website, published directory or verified public contact information.
03
Contact the real organization.
Do not use only the phone number, link or email supplied by the person who says you won. Ask the organization whether the promotion and notice are legitimate.
04
Compare the procedures.
Compare the notice with the organization's published claim procedures, deadlines and documentation requirements before taking action.
Common warning signs
Pressure is often part of the scam.
Fraudulent prize notices can look professional and may use familiar company names, official-looking documents and confident language. Focus on what the sender is asking you to do.
Pay to claim
Requests for supposed taxes, shipping, processing, customs or release fees before a sweepstakes or lottery prize is delivered are a major warning sign.
Artificial urgency
Be cautious when you are told the prize disappears unless you pay, provide information or make a decision immediately.
Unusual payment methods
Gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, cash and difficult-to-reverse payment methods are frequently used because recovering the money can be difficult.
Government impersonation
Scammers may use government names, logos or official language to make a prize sound supervised or guaranteed by a public agency.
A win you cannot place
Treat an unexpected notice with additional caution when you do not remember entering the drawing, promotion or contest it supposedly concerns.
Check-and-return schemes
A check that appears to clear does not prove a prize is legitimate. Be cautious if someone sends a check and instructs you to return or forward part of the money.
Your information can be as valuable to a scammer as your money.
A prize notice can be used as a reason to request information that later supports identity theft, account takeover or additional targeted fraud. Verify the need for sensitive information before providing it.
Protect your information
Be deliberate about what you disclose.
Avoid providing sensitive information simply because a caller, email or letter looks official.
- Social Security or taxpayer identification numbers
- Bank account or routing information
- Credit or debit card numbers
- Online banking passwords or security codes
- Copies of identification documents
- Photographs of winning tickets, barcodes or claim documents
If you already acted
Take action quickly if money or personal information was shared.
Preserve the evidence and use the appropriate official reporting and recovery resources. The sooner a payment provider or financial institution is contacted, the more options may still be available.
01
Contact the payment provider or financial institution.
If money was sent, contact the bank, card issuer, payment service, wire company or other provider involved and ask what recovery or fraud procedures may be available.
02
Preserve the evidence.
Keep copies of emails, text messages, letters, envelopes, receipts, phone numbers, payment records and other information connected with the incident.
03
Report suspected fraud.
The Federal Trade Commission accepts consumer fraud reports through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
04
Respond to identity exposure.
If sensitive personal information was provided or misused, IdentityTheft.gov provides an official recovery-planning resource.
05
Report mail-related fraud when appropriate.
If the U.S. Mail was used as part of the scheme, the United States Postal Inspection Service accepts reports involving lottery and sweepstakes fraud.
Free official resources
Know where to report and where to learn more.
These public resources can be accessed directly without purchasing a service.
Federal Trade Commission
Prize, Sweepstakes & Lottery Scam Guidance
FTC consumer guidance covering common prize-scam tactics, warning signs and steps consumers can take.
Visit FTC Consumer Advice ↗
Federal Trade Commission
ReportFraud.ftc.gov
The FTC's official service for reporting suspected scams, fraudulent solicitations and other consumer fraud.
Report suspected fraud ↗
Federal Trade Commission
IdentityTheft.gov
Federal recovery information for consumers whose personal information has been exposed or used for identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov ↗
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Report Mail Fraud
USPIS accepts reports involving suspected fraud using the U.S. Mail, including lottery and sweepstakes scams.
Visit USPIS.gov ↗
Need help finding a resource?
We can help point you toward publicly available information.
Contact the American Lottery Consumer Network for general information or help locating the appropriate public resource.
Educational information
The American Lottery Consumer Network is an independent educational resource. We are not a government agency, law enforcement agency, lottery operator, law firm or financial institution. We do not investigate fraud, recover funds or provide individualized legal, tax or financial advice. External resources are provided for informational convenience.