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Prize, lottery or sweepstakes scam: How to Spot It & Check Your Message

You 'won' a prize, car or lottery you never entered, but must pay taxes, shipping or a processing fee first. Real sweepstakes never ask winners to pay.

๐Ÿ”’ Checked on your device. The message is never uploaded or saved.

Try an example:

๐Ÿ’ฌ Protect your parents and friends: share this free scam checker

Common scams in the US

What is this scam?

You 'won' a prize, car or lottery you never entered, but must pay taxes, shipping or a processing fee first. Real sweepstakes never ask winners to pay.

What the message looks like (example)

Congratulations! You have been selected as the winner of a $2,500,000 Publishers Clearing House prize. To claim, pay the $499 processing fee via gift card.

๐Ÿšฉ Warning signs

  • You never entered
  • Pay a fee to claim

โœ… What to do

  • Don't pay. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Questions people ask

How does the scam checker work?+

It looks for the warning signs used in real US scams (fake toll and package texts, bank 'fraud alerts', IRS and Social Security threats, gift-card demands, fake websites and more) and explains each one it finds.

Is my message uploaded?+

No. The check runs entirely on your device. Nothing is sent or stored.

Where do I report a scam text?+

Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you lost money, contact your bank or card issuer immediately.

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