Mega Millions sweepstakes scams: how the fake win works
Quick answer
A message that says you won Mega Millions or a sweepstakes you never entered is a scam, especially if it asks for a fee, bank details or a gift card. The FTC says if you have to pay to get a prize, it's a scam. Real sweepstakes are free. Don't reply, don't click, and report it.
- Comes by
- Text, Email, Phone call, Social media, Mail
- Pretends to be
- Mega Millions
- Last updated
How it works
A call, text, email, social media message or letter says you won a lottery, sweepstakes or prize. Scammers name real lotteries and well-known companies, or invent official-sounding bodies, to look credible.
The FTC says the pattern is the same each time. First comes a reason to pay: a fee, a tax, a customs charge or a processing cost. Or they ask for bank account, credit card or Social Security details to release the prize. They push you to act now and insist on wire transfer, payment apps, cash, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Some send a check and ask you to send part back. The bank may take weeks to find out the check is fake, and then you owe the money.
There is no prize. The message went to many people, and the FTC suggests checking whether others have reported the same one.
Red flags
- You won a drawing you never entered
- You must pay a fee, tax or charge to claim the prize
- A request for your bank account, card or Social Security number
- Payment by wire, payment app, gift card, crypto or cash
- A check that comes with a request to send some money back
- Pressure to act now
- A foreign lottery
Example message
Congratulations! Your number was selected in the Mega Millions sweepstakes and you won a cash prize. To release your winnings, reply within 24 hours and pay the processing fee. Claim here: [link].
What to do
- 1
Don't reply, click or pay
Delete the message without clicking links. The FTC says there's no reason to ever give your bank account, card or Social Security number to claim a prize.
- 2
Check it independently
Search online for the sender's name with words like review, complaint or scam. If you want to check a real company, look up its contact details yourself.
- 3
If you paid
Contact the company you paid with right away and ask whether the payment can be reversed. For gift cards, call the card company.
- 4
If you deposited a check
Tell your bank it may be fake before sending anything back.
- 5
If you shared personal details
Go to IdentityTheft.gov for steps. Our guide on what to do after a data breach has more.
- 6
Report it
Report it to the FTC and your state attorney general. If the notice came by mail, report it to the US Postal Inspection Service.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
People get these because their phone number, email or home address is on a list. Contest entries can also be sold to advertisers, as the FTC notes, and people-search sites and breaches add the rest. Serus finds the data brokers and people-search sites that list your name, address and phone number and sends the removal requests, and it alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
More Mega Millions scams
Frequently asked
Does Mega Millions contact winners by text or email asking for a fee?
The FTC says real sweepstakes are free and no real sweepstakes company will contact you asking for money to claim a prize.
Is Mega Millions a scam?
No. Scammers pretend to be Mega Millions or other lotteries to get your money.
What if I really did enter a lottery?
Look up the real organization's contact details yourself and ask. Never use the details in the message.
Is a foreign lottery win real?
The FTC says foreign lottery messages are almost certainly from scammers, and playing a foreign lottery is illegal in the United States.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
