Fake Lottery & Prize Notifications
You won $1 million! Just pay the fee!
Messages telling you won a lottery, sweepstakes, or prize you never entered. You must pay "taxes," "processing fees," or "customs duties" to claim your winnings.
What to Watch For
- You never entered any contest but somehow won
- You must pay money to receive money (real lotteries deduct fees from winnings)
- Payment required via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- Personal information you provided was never made public yet they know your details
Examples
""CONGRATULATIONS! You have been selected as the winner of the International Lottery! Your prize of $1,000,000 is ready. Please send a processing fee of $250 to claim.""
Why it works: The sheer amount of money promised makes rational thinking difficult. Combined with urgency and a small "processing fee," it appeals to greed and hope.
What to Do
You cannot win a lottery you did not enter. Real lotteries never ask you to pay fees upfront. Ignore the message and delete it immediately.