How to spot a fake sweepstakes (and a fake “you won” message)
Updated November 6, 2026
Real sweepstakes give away billions of dollars in prizes every year, and real people win them. That's exactly why scammers copy them. The good news: fake sweepstakes almost always break the same few rules, so once you know them, they're easy to spot.
The one rule that catches most scams
You never pay to win or to claim a legitimate sweepstakes prize. Not a “processing fee,” not “shipping,” not “taxes up front,” not a gift card, not a wire transfer, not crypto. In the US, a sweepstakes that requires payment to enter or win is an illegal lottery, so a real sponsor won't ask. The Federal Trade Commission puts it bluntly: if someone says you have to pay to claim a sweepstakes prize, assume it's a scam.
Other warning signs
- You “won” something you never entered. You can't win a sweepstakes you didn't enter. Keep a simple list of what you enter (the checkboxes and My Entries on this site do this for you), so you can check.
- Pressure and secrecy. “Respond in 24 hours or lose your prize,” “don't tell anyone.” Real sponsors give you a reasonable window that's written in the official rules.
- Requests for bank logins, card numbers or your full Social Security number by text or phone. Big-prize winners do sign tax paperwork (see below), but it comes in writing from the sponsor or its prize administrator, and it never asks for your bank password.
- A “check” for more than you won, with a request to send part of it back. The check bounces after you've sent the money.
- Foreign lotteries. Offers to enter or collect from a foreign lottery by mail or phone are illegal in the US and are almost always scams.
- Look-alike accounts. On social media, scammers copy a brand's name and photo and comment “Congrats, you won! DM us.” Check that the account is the brand's verified one and that the giveaway post actually exists on it.
What a real winner notification looks like
Every legitimate sweepstakes has official rules, and the rules say exactly how winners are contacted. Typically:
- The message comes by the method in the rules (usually email, sometimes phone or mail), from the sponsor or a named prize administrator.
- You may be asked to sign an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release, and for prizes worth $2,000 or more (for prizes awarded in 2026), to provide tax information so the sponsor can send you an IRS Form 1099. That's normal.
- There's a deadline to respond, and it matches the rules.
- Nobody asks you for money.
If you're not sure, don't reply to the message. Look up the sponsor yourself, find the official rules for that promotion, and contact the sponsor or administrator using the details in the rules.
Before you enter: a 20-second check
- Is there an official rules link? No rules, no entry.
- Do the rules name a real sponsor with an address?
- Does it say no purchase necessary, and is there a free way to enter?
- Are the dates, prizes and number of winners stated?
Every listing on Sweeps Calendar links to its official rules, and we don't list promotions that require a purchase or fee. See how to read official rules for what to look for.
If you think you've been targeted
- Don't send money or gift card codes, and don't click links in the message.
- If you already paid, contact your bank or card issuer right away.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.