If you have to pay a fee to collect a prize you won, it is a scam.

What they say

“Congratulations, this is Publishers Clearing House. You have won 2.5 million dollars and a new car. To release your winnings, you just need to cover the taxes and a processing fee up front. Do not tell anyone until our prize patrol arrives.”

How to tell it’s a scam

• The real Publishers Clearing House never calls or emails winners and never asks for any payment. It delivers big prizes in person, unannounced.
• You are asked to pay taxes or a fee before you can collect, which a real sweepstakes never does.
• “Keep it a secret until we arrive” is a tell, meant to stop you from checking with anyone.

What they say

“You are the lucky winner of the Mega Millions second-chance drawing. To process your prize, we need a one-time release fee and your bank details so we can deposit the winnings.”

How to tell it’s a scam

• You cannot win a lottery or drawing you never entered, and real lotteries do not contact winners by surprise call or text.
• A real prize is never released only after you pay a fee or hand over your bank details.
• Official-sounding names like Mega Millions and Powerball are borrowed to make the lie credible.

What they say

“Congratulations! Your number was selected to receive a 1,000 dollar Amazon gift card. Claim your reward now at the link below. This offer expires in 24 hours.”

How to tell it’s a scam

• A retailer you did not enter a contest with does not text you a surprise gift-card win.
• The link goes to a fake form that harvests your personal and payment information, or installs malware.
• The 24-hour countdown is pressure to make you tap before you think.

What they say

“This is the international lottery commission. Your email was selected in the Spanish El Gordo draw. To transfer your winnings, you must first pay customs duties and a transfer tax to our agent.”

How to tell it’s a scam

• It is illegal to play a foreign lottery by phone, mail, or email, so a foreign lottery win is always a scam.
• You are asked to wire customs, taxes, or transfer fees to an agent before any money appears.
• The winnings never arrive, and each payment is followed by a request for another.

What they say

“You have been awarded a prize in our sweepstakes. To ship it to you, we just need a small payment for insurance and handling, payable by gift card or money transfer.”

How to tell it’s a scam

• A real prize is free. If you have to pay shipping, insurance, taxes, or a processing fee, it is a scam.
• Payment by gift card, wire, or a money app is never how a legitimate prize is delivered.
• The “small fee” is the whole point, and there is no prize behind it.