All common scams

Prize and lottery wins: "You won, pay a fee to claim it"

A message says you won a prize or a lottery you never entered, then asks for a fee, a gift card or your bank details before you can claim it.

What it looks like

Congratulations! You have won $850,000 in the International Lottery. To claim your prize, pay a $300 processing fee in gift cards and send your bank account number so we can deposit the winnings.

A made-up example. Real messages change the words, the names and the numbers.

The signs to look for

• It says you won something you never entered. You cannot win a draw you did not enter.
• It asks for a fee, a tax or a gift card to claim the prize. A real prize never needs money from the winner first.
• It asks for your bank account number or ID "to deposit the winnings". That is how an account is taken over or emptied.

What they usually ask for next

1. The message often says you won a prize or a lottery you never entered.
2. They usually ask for a fee, a "tax", shipping or insurance to release it, then a second fee after the first.
3. They often ask for your bank details or a photo of your ID "to deposit the winnings".

If you already paid, gave access or gave a code

These are the same steps the tool shows after a check, in the same words.

1. You cannot win a prize in a draw you never entered. Do not reply, click a link or call the number in the message.
2. A real prize never needs a fee, a gift card, a tax payment or a bank login first. Do not pay to "release" or "ship" winnings: a second fee, then a third, usually follows.
3. Do not send photos of your ID or your bank details "to deposit the winnings". They are used to open accounts or take over yours.
4. Contact your bank, card company, or payment provider right away, by phone or in their official app, using a number from your card or statement. Ask whether the payment can be stopped or disputed. That depends on the payment type and the timing, and an outcome can't be promised. Phone is usually the fastest first move. Going to a local branch (a later step) is the follow-up, not a replacement.

These steps are general guidance. They have not yet been reviewed by the organizations named, and agencies, deadlines and rules differ by country, so use your own government's official website to find the right office. We can't tell whether any step will help in your case.

This is general information, not legal, financial or investigative advice. We can't promise any money will come back.

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