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.
๐ฉ Warning signs
- You never entered
- Pay a fee to claim
โ What to do
- Don't pay. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.