A call, text, email, or letter saying you've won a lottery, sweepstakes, or big prize — but must first pay a 'fee', 'taxes', or 'insurance' to release it — is always a scam. Paste it for an instant read.
Quick answer — Never. A legitimate prize never requires an upfront fee, taxes paid by gift card or wire, or 'insurance' to release it. If you're asked to pay to collect a win — especially one you never entered — it's a scam.
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Why a real prize never works this way
You can't win a lottery you never entered, and no legitimate prize requires you to pay money upfront to receive it. Real sweepstakes deduct taxes from the winnings or have you settle them with the IRS directly — they never ask you to wire money, buy gift cards, or send a 'processing fee' first. The upfront fee is the entire scam: once you pay, they invent more fees or simply vanish.
What to do
Don't pay anything or share bank or ID details to 'verify' your win. Be extra wary when a real-sounding name (a well-known sweepstakes or a foreign lottery) is used to seem legitimate. Stop responding, keep the message, and report it to the FTC and — for anything that came by mail — the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
If you already paid or shared your info
Don't panic — acting quickly limits the damage. Do these now:
Paid by gift card, wire, or crypto? Contact the gift-card issuer, wire service, or exchange right away — some transactions can still be stopped — and keep the receipts and card numbers.
Entered a card number or paid online? Call your bank to freeze or replace the card and dispute the charge.
Typed a password or login on a linked page? Change it now — and anywhere you reused it — and turn on two-factor authentication.
Shared your SSN or other ID? Start a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov and consider a credit freeze with the three credit bureaus.
Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (and, for online scams, the FBI at ic3.gov).
FAQ
Do I have to pay a fee to claim lottery winnings?
Never. A legitimate prize never requires an upfront fee, taxes paid by gift card or wire, or 'insurance' to release it. If you're asked to pay to collect a win — especially one you never entered — it's a scam.
I sent money to claim a prize — can I get it back?
Act fast: contact your bank, wire service, or gift-card issuer immediately, since some payments can occasionally be stopped or traced. Report it to the FTC. Gift-card and wire payments are hard to recover, so stop any further payments now.
Official sources
This guidance is compiled from official U.S. government sources. For your specific situation, verify directly: