Lottery scam checker

Lottery Scam Checker: How to Spot and Report It

Lottery and prize scams tell you that you won money, a grant, a package, a phone, or a sweepstakes you may not remember entering. The message may use official-looking logos or claim a celebrity foundation selected you.

The catch is usually an upfront fee. Scammers ask for taxes, delivery charges, insurance, bank verification, or gift cards before the prize can be released.

Analyze this prize message Read FAQ

Quick answer

Real prizes do not require secret upfront payments

A lottery scam usually says you won unexpectedly, then asks for fees, gift cards, bank details, ID documents, or secrecy before releasing a fake prize.

Free scam check

Paste the lottery, prize, or grant notice

The sample below shows a fake prize notification with an upfront fee. Replace it with the message you received.

Sample loaded

Typical red flags

Prize scams rely on surprise, excitement, and a small payment compared with a large fake reward.

  • You won a lottery, grant, or sweepstakes you did not enter.
  • They ask for processing, tax, delivery, insurance, customs, or release fees.
  • Payment is requested by gift card, wire transfer, crypto, or payment app.
  • They ask for bank details, ID documents, or SSN to claim the prize.
  • The message asks for secrecy or says you must act today.
  • Email domains, seals, certificates, or courier documents look copied or generic.
  • They keep adding new fees after you pay the first one.

What to do if you already fell for it

Stop paying fees and contact the payment provider immediately.

  • Do not send another payment to unlock the prize.
  • Contact your bank, card issuer, payment app, or gift card issuer as soon as possible.
  • Keep receipts, card numbers, emails, texts, phone numbers, and documents.
  • Report the account or ad on the platform where you were contacted.
  • Change passwords if you created an account through their link.
  • Watch for follow-up recovery or refund scams.
  • Report the scam to your local consumer protection authority.

Example: upfront fee prize

Input

You were selected to receive $750,000. Pay a refundable processing fee by gift card today.

What to notice

  • The message claims an unexpected prize.
  • It requires a fee before payment, which is a classic advance-fee pattern.
  • Gift card payment makes reversal difficult.

Lottery scam FAQ

Can I win a lottery I did not enter?

That is a major red flag. Legitimate lotteries and sweepstakes do not randomly award large prizes to people who never entered.

Do real prize winners pay taxes upfront to the sender?

No. Be suspicious of anyone demanding tax, insurance, courier, or processing fees before releasing a prize.

Why do scammers ask for gift cards?

Gift cards are fast, hard to reverse, and easy for scammers to redeem anonymously.

What if they mailed me an official-looking certificate?

Certificates, seals, courier letters, and winner IDs can be copied or invented. Verify the organization independently and do not pay fees to release a prize.

What should I paste into ScamSpot?

Paste the prize notice, fee request, payment instructions, sender details, or follow-up messages. Remove private identity numbers first.