Winners are losers in lottery & sweepstakes scams (2024)

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FAQs

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

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Don't use yvit…

June 05, 2018

I HAVE FALLEN VICTIM ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND I REGRETTED IT. I WISH I CAN RECOVER MY MONEY.

Iblala

June 13, 2018

In reply to I HAVE FALLEN VICTIM ON MANY by Don't use yvit…

Contact the Fbi

Trying to stee…

July 14, 2018

In reply to Contact the Fbi by Iblala

I was texted from 614 814 8803 said I won Fcebook lottery. Sent my a list if info they needed. And would deliver to my home cash .

Vanderlin58

April 23, 2019

In reply to I was texted from 614 814 by Trying to stee…

This just happened to me a friend messaged me that she won and she saw my name on the list from FBPOKERFORTE.com .When I called my friend the next day she said it was not her.The guy I messaged name was Robert L Jenkins the told me I won $100,000 but I had to send them $2000 in Google p!at cards and then I would get my money by courier in 24 hours .It did not feel or sound right so I did not do it.

John F

June 05, 2018

Good info thanks

Mstoya9

June 05, 2018

What if you already are a victim of this scam

FTC Staff

June 18, 2018

In reply to What if you already are a by Mstoya9

You can report that to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations. The comments you put here on the blog don’t go into the law enforcement database.

rikoshed

June 05, 2018

Thanks for the info but I would never go for that I would just ricoshed it back!

clockmaker

June 05, 2018

I get calls and emails every day. There is one call I get from Pennsylvania constantly. I finally blocked it but, he used a different number. He calls himself David Nelson. His phone number is, 1 610-713-8417

Very Cautious …

June 05, 2018

If it is legit you do not have to pay to receive your prize. Also do you recall entering a sweepstakes. You need to enter to win. They don't need your information, they would already have the information they need if you had entered the sweepstakes.

star

June 12, 2018

In reply to I've turned in some of these by Jrlv5648

did it do any good

vernon

June 29, 2019

In reply to did it do any good by star

letter from oz lotto , mike freeman prise adm., 1,327,940 winner, must be BS. Consumer brand sweepstakes. Did not enter any lotto..

Mickeyboy907

June 05, 2018

The new scam . Craig's list , big homes for rent way to cheap , then the scam starts . take your money , not there home to rent at all .

Sad Daughter

June 05, 2018

My mom just passed away and in cleaning out her house we found several hundred items from Publisher Clearing House that my mom purchased in the hopes that she will win the big prize. Not only that but everyday, and I do mean everyday mail from PCH came to her promising money, money, money. I am so sad that this happened to her, an elderly woman with a very small income, hoping for a big win. I wish this company and others like this could be eliminated.

kstiverson

June 06, 2018

In reply to My mom just passed away and by Sad Daughter

That is what I did with PCH. So sad to loose the money on bad items and no prizes.

Itup

June 06, 2018

In reply to My mom just passed away and by Sad Daughter

Same experienced with me.I stopped buying products from them few years ago.That Publisher Cleaning house charged high shipping & handling and also some products are very cheap made.Their Advertising is very tempting.

raven229

June 06, 2018

In reply to Same experienced with me.I by Itup

I have only bought from PCH ONCE then rad the fine print (NO PURCHASE NECESSARY) and never made another purchase (IT DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR ODDS) again

Gwynn

June 10, 2018

In reply to My mom just passed away and by Sad Daughter

They should be charged with such treacherous activities then apprehended and brought to justice in which all her money also be reimbursed to you.

dillweed

July 25, 2018

In reply to My mom just passed away and by Sad Daughter

yes i hear you

Msindyl25

August 16, 2018

In reply to My mom just passed away and by Sad Daughter

Oh my, I am so glad I came across this article. Now I do not feel like a terrible daughter when I try to stop my mom from spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on PCH items to win the big money. It has been years now and just getting worse. Yes she get mailing now almost everyday and not it has gone into my husbands name for whatever reason. My husband has never ordered from them. So everything my mom ordered is in my husbands name and they told me they combined the household into one account. I am making them fix it, but they said it will take weeks.

Bryan Griggs

January 16, 2019

In reply to My mom just passed away and by Sad Daughter

I keep getting a mailed letter from RAN or "Research America Network " saying send $30 to receive my winnings of $2,347,293 reply within 12 buisness days or results in forfeiture of my winnings. Is this for real or real good at getting people's money...

JayeBird

June 05, 2018

I’ve been getting a ton of unsolicited phone calls from Verizon stating that I can payoff my student loans, then they hang up and when I call back it’s Always a Verizon number trying to get me to pay my bill! 10-15 calls daily and Verizon doesn’t deny this but they can’t do anything about it! It’s driving me NUTS!!!! Is there Anything I can do to Stop these prank calls??? Please help me stop this MADNESS?!?!?!?

FTC Staff

June 18, 2018

In reply to I’ve been getting a ton of by JayeBird

This FTC page has tips about how to handle unwanted calls.

BinkyBoo

June 05, 2018

Last time they called me I said I want I told them to send it to my house and hung up on them. Funny thing I never got the prize.

Zach

June 05, 2018

Like others,I joke with my mailman that he never brings me money, only bills for payment. That's life, he says. No stranger is going to give you money. Not a one.

Frank Mayer

June 05, 2018

The US Government and our law makers need to establish and enforce laws that require all games of chance to be under the control of the state or local government and heavily taxed. If people have money to use on games of chance then they have money to contribute more to paying for government programs instead of wasting money. Then we could retain the tax cut we just received without going bankrupt. Additionally, people would know that if the government is not actively endorsing the game then playing the game of chance is illegal and will subject them and the scam artist to serious sanctions and fines.

aussieechols

June 05, 2018

I been through some identity theft as well as scams fb lottery.I have pictures on my phone now 2017/ 2018 from MARK ZUCKERBERG SAYING WINNER CONGRATULATIONS PROMISED A MERCEDES ITS ALL ON MY PHONE NOW ITS SAD HOW YOU GET CAUGHT UP..WITH OUR POTUS DONALD TRUMP THIS NO SCAM FBI KNOW ABOUT FB LOTTERY

Cleopatra

June 05, 2018

I get all kinds of scams by mail and by phone but before I reply I checked with the real industry that offers anything there's a lots of scammers I am so sorry for your mother and her passing. Scammers pray in older people. My sincere sorry about your loving mother I wished I had meet her to help her to not listening to the scammers is so sad.I don't know you but I wish you the best in such a sad situation

Snakelady

June 05, 2018

The one I found super funny is I owe or a supposedly and if I would like to fight it my lawyer and I can come to Washington dc or I can pay the 6,653.00 and settle my debt....if not than my local law agency will come out and arrest me,also cease my home,bank account any all assets that I own. I called it's to make sure I didn't owe and the lady I spoke with said if we are going to arrest you ,then we will do so without any warning.ITS A Major SCAM

Rottweiler15

June 05, 2018

We have a landline we use to call 800 numbers and local calls. The "do not call list" is worthless. We never answer the landline although we get numerous calls every week. They never leave a message. What a surprise! Many calls are made to our cell phones with unrecognizable numbers. Again, no message is left. My advice to you is if you do pick up the phone NEVER SAY YES even if they use your name.

Bigf1842

June 05, 2018

PCH.Com is responsible for the hacking and compromising of thousands of accounts. That there privacy policy and terms and conditions forbid markerters from selling or accessing one's data. But they do this anyway like purging it from data banks,and they sell your data. That is illegal, and they profit off of it. Those are the facts. It's not a game, it is theft, and they are good at it.

?

June 05, 2018

For sad daughter, PCH is halfway a scam, they do sell you stuff legitly making you think your odds are better of, even though in small print it says "no purchase necessary".

Patty conti

June 05, 2018

The have someone you dont know to tell you your on some list.but have to.pay DELIVERY charges.

an angel in heaven

June 05, 2018

DO NOT answer surveys they could be trying to get info from you. Any questionnaires seriously

PCH Loser

June 05, 2018

Receive many e-emails daily.While pushing sweepstakes opportunities they offer hundreds of cheap items for sale.Odds of winning greater than odds of winning Power Ball.

Slam The Scammer

June 05, 2018

FTC need to hold online providers accountable for this type of fraud since they're very to remove from you email address once spamed. (Especially on your cellphone)..

Charlotte C.

June 05, 2018

Its not the company, its the scammers.if you have to pay, then its a scam!

Nurturer

June 05, 2018

My exhusband fell for a scam he sent a check from his parents checking account for $300.00 and the account was drained of all the money.

jen

June 05, 2018

I agree that the Publisher's Clearing House- and all similar types of supposedly "legal" contests should be eliminated. I entered for years,- then encountered countless e-mails, requesting I jump through more hoops- and keep entering......so ridiculous. They are just scammers- looking for magazine and other garbage sales.

gail91240

June 05, 2018

I am one of the victims of the PCH winnings. I lost mega bucks wiring money, money orders, credit cards and gift cards as well as out of the Country phone calls by doing what they asked me to do. I lost my savings which was around $15,000. and never received anything of the free money, a car and a Washer & Dryer. I just wouldn't believe anyone that was telling me not to do this and now I am paying for it. MY ADVICE...PLEASE DO NOT EVER SEND ANY MONEY TO THEM BECAUSE IT IS A SCAM AND YOU'LL NEVER WIN ANYTHING BUT LOSS OF MONEY AND TIME.

D Earley510

June 06, 2018

Publishes Clearing House has told me 5 times they are coning to my house and never shown up I

Bobby J.Don't …

June 06, 2018

Had a call telling me i had won PCH prize. Asked me to put $800.00 on a gift card and send them the information. I started laughing then told them to keep the prize for them self.

Don't use your…

June 06, 2018

Do u think PCH IS A SCAM ?

Fanta 2

June 06, 2018

In reply to Do u think PCH IS A SCAM ? by Don't use your…

No. Just a company out to get you to buy all of their products. How ever the real pch never ask people to send them money in less you buy this merchandise. There are scammers out there pretending to be pch. So no they are not scammers, they are just a bunch of unscrupulous sales people who want you to buy their products by telling you that you could win money. But it is more likely that you won't win, than it is that you will

marlene

June 26, 2018

In reply to Do u think PCH IS A SCAM ? by Don't use your…

They actually have winners, but so many people enter that it is almost impossible to win. I do play the games that I like with no expectations that I will ever win. However, they do send out a lot of e-mails misleading a person to think that the next step is the winner step.

Mariesizemore

June 06, 2018

Yes Im a 65 year old woman who is DISABLED person and they took 450.dollars from me and said that I had won 5000.00o so don't believe nothing cause it is nothing but a heart ache and you will lose your money for nothing I have been lied to so many times and I would love to have my money back from those people who scammed me

Killion4690

June 06, 2018

Facebook international lottery you 830,000.00 but you need to pay Nigeria and fees and irs and taxes to FedEx and Ups

Kimchavis

June 06, 2018

I'm eing harrassed by three guys in the samescam they claim I won 4.5 million plus 5000$ a week for life. But they want me send via wire 200$ for international taxes on the money. lol im not stupid

gahh

June 06, 2018

I get calls from the so called IRS that I will be arrested and my SS number will be black listed, if I don't pay up on mistakes I made filing my returns.Nothing but lies lies lies. They hate it when I hang up on this trash!

Winners are losers in lottery & sweepstakes scams (2024)

FAQs

Winners are losers in lottery & sweepstakes scams? ›

They ask for your bank account information, or ask you to send money via a wire transfer or to purchase gift cards and provide the card numbers. Any way you send it, you lose money instead of winning it. You don't get a big prize. Instead, you get more requests for money, and more promises that you won big.

Why did I get a text saying a lottery winner wants to give me money? ›

Scammers are impersonating lottery winners on social media, often using the names of real winners to make their posts sound legit. If you reply to their posts, the fake lottery winner might ask for your phone number and send a text saying you won the money but need to act fast. That's the first red flag.

What is the catch with sweepstakes? ›

It's illegal for someone to ask you to pay to increase your odds of winning. Only a scammer will do that. You have to give your financial information. There's absolutely no reason to ever give your bank account or credit card number to claim any prize or sweepstakes.

How to avoid sweepstakes scams? ›

How do I avoid falling for a Lottery or Sweepstakes Scam?
  1. A lottery requires you to purchase a ticket in order to participate. ...
  2. Sweepstakes are free games of chance. ...
  3. Do not send money to claim your prize. ...
  4. Never provide your bank account number or other personal information .

When you win the lottery, do they write you a check? ›

You can take one lump sum payment for your lottery winnings or divide it into regular annuity payments that get paid out over time. Regardless, the district office will give your first check. After that, future payments can be sent directly to your financial institution for them to deposit on your behalf.

Does the lottery text you? ›

If you receive a notification through direct messages (DMs), it's a scam. No lottery notifies winners via social media.

How are sweepstakes winners notified? ›

The winner will be notified via email or postal mail by the contact information provided on their account.

Do sweepstakes ask for a social security number? ›

Legitimate contests require you to sign a notarized affidavit before sending a check. information a sweepstakes needs from a winner is a social security number, in order to report accurate information to the IRS.

Should I trust sweepstakes? ›

Keep track of actual sweepstakes entries and read the fine print and rules. Never pay upfront fees to claim prizes. No legitimate sweepstakes will ask for fees to receive prizes. Any fees that claim to be for taxes, shipping and handling or processing are fake and a tipoff to stop all communication.

What is the fake lottery winning message? ›

A letter, email, popup or social media message claiming you've won a lottery you've never entered. You're offered entry in a lottery or sweepstakes at no cost. You're asked to share sensitive info over the phone or by email. You're asked to pay a fee to get your prize.

Can you get money from unsolicited texts? ›

If you have not given a business or organization permission to call or text, you may be able to sue them for $500 – $1500 per violation.

Who won the 754.6 million lottery? ›

Becky Bell, an Auburn resident who has worked for Boeing for 36 years, claimed the Powerball jackpot on Tuesday, February 28.

Who won the Powerball for Charlie Saephan? ›

Saephan, who has been battling cancer for the past eight years, won $1.3 billion. He will share the prize with his wife, Duanpen Saephan, and their friend, Laiza Chao. The three winners opted for a lump sum payment (instead of an annuity). That brings them, collectively, over $422 million after taxes.

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