A Prize Notification Arrived: Verify It Before Paying or Replying
Consumer explainer | Sweepstakes
An unexpected winning message should be checked outside the message itself. Do not start with its payment link or contact number. Locate the sponsor independently and compare the notification with the rules of a promotion you actually entered.
The FTC warns that demands to pay fees to receive a supposed prize are a hallmark of prize scams. A message asking for banking details or money deserves particular caution, even if it uses familiar branding.
Write down the claimed sponsor, prize, entry date, and requested action. Look for a consistent explanation in the official rules. Ask a trusted person to review the message before responding if excitement or pressure is making it difficult to assess.
If the contact appears fraudulent, do not send payment or sensitive information. Preserve the message for reporting and contact your financial provider promptly if you already paid. A legitimate-looking logo is not enough to establish that the sender represents the organization it names.