Lottery & prize

Is the lottery winning notification a scam?

Quick answer

Yes — 100% of the time when you didn't enter the lottery. Real lottery prizes don't require winners to pay 'taxes,' 'fees,' or 'insurance' upfront to claim. You cannot win a lottery you never entered. Period.

Red flags to look for

1
You don't remember entering this lottery
2
Says you won a large sum (often $500K – $5M)
3
Asks you to pay 'taxes,' 'release fees,' or 'insurance' before receiving the prize
4
Tells you to keep the win confidential until paid
5
Comes via mail, email, phone, or text — never via official lottery channels
6
Foreign lottery: 'Spanish lottery,' 'UK lottery,' 'Canadian lottery'

Real examples

Phone call

Congratulations! You've won $2.5 million in the Publishers Clearing House Mega Drawing. To release your prize, we need you to pay $4,500 in federal taxes. Once received, your check will be hand-delivered.

Likely Scam

Real lotteries don't collect taxes upfront — taxes come out of the prize. PCH publicly states they never call winners or require any payment to claim. This script has cost American seniors over $100 million annually.

What to do

Hang up or delete the message.
Never send any money to claim any prize.
Tell family members, especially older relatives — these scams target seniors aggressively.
Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov and at the FBI's ic3.gov.
Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov) — won't stop scammers but adds legal weight.

Not sure about a message? Check it in seconds.

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Why scammers use this approach

Lottery scams exploit hope and the universal cultural narrative of life-changing windfalls. Older adults are disproportionately targeted — and lose disproportionately, often draining retirement savings over months of escalating 'fees.'

Frequently asked questions

What about Publishers Clearing House specifically?

Real PCH winners are notified in person at their home (the 'Prize Patrol'). PCH never calls or emails about wins. Never. Anyone claiming to be PCH by phone is a scammer.