Once you start entering sweepstakes, your name and email get around. Most of that is harmless newsletters. But it also means you'll eventually get a message saying you've won something you didn't win. Here's how to spot one quickly.
The one rule that catches almost all of them
You never pay to receive a prize. No fee, no shipping charge, no taxes paid to the sponsor, no gift cards, no wire transfer, no crypto. If a message asks for money in any form, it's a scam. Real sponsors pay for the prize and the shipping. You settle your own taxes with the IRS later.
Other warning signs
- You don't remember entering. You can't win something you never entered. Big-name sweepstakes are favorite targets because everyone has heard of them.
- Pressure and secrecy. "Respond in one hour or lose your prize." "Don't tell anyone until it's processed." Real deadlines exist, but they come with a letter and contact details, not threats.
- A check bigger than expected. Some scams send a real-looking check and ask you to deposit it and send part back for "fees." The check bounces days later and you're out the money you sent.
- The wrong sender. A Gmail or Hotmail address, a misspelled brand name, or a domain that's almost right (amaz0n, walmart-prizes) instead of the sponsor or the company named in the rules.
- Asking for bank or card details. A real sponsor might ask for your address and, for bigger prizes, a W-9. They don't need your bank login, your card number, or your PIN.
- A social media DM. Brands announce winners in the way their rules say. A look-alike account messaging you with a link is one of the most common scams right now.
Common scripts
The fee. "Congratulations, you've won $5,000! A $49 processing fee is required." There is no fee. Stop there.
The phone call. Someone claiming to be from a big sweepstakes says you've won a car and need to pay taxes or insurance first. They might call again and again. Hang up.
The link. A text with a short link to "claim your prize" that leads to a page asking you to sign in or enter your card. It's built to steal your details.
The fake account. You entered a brand's Instagram giveaway, and an account with almost the same name messages you saying you won and need to fill out a form. Check the account: real brand accounts are usually verified, have years of posts, and a lot of followers.
How to check a notice you're not sure about
- Don't click links or call numbers in the message.
- Find the sweepstakes yourself: its official rules page, or the listing on SweepQueue.
- Check how the rules say winners are contacted and who the sponsor or administrator is.
- Contact the sponsor using the details in the rules, and ask whether the notice is genuine.
If it's real, they'll confirm it and tell you what comes next. If it isn't, you've lost nothing.
If you already paid or shared something
Act quickly. Call your bank or card company and tell them it was fraud. If you sent gift cards, contact the company that issued them; sometimes they can freeze the balance. Change any password you typed into a suspicious page. Then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. It helps others even if you can't get the money back.
Keeping all your sweepstakes in one place helps here. If a notice names a sweepstakes that isn't in your SweepQueue history, that's a strong sign you never entered it.