Lottery Scam
Fake lottery winnings requiring payment to claim.
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Cómo funciona esta estafa
Email/call announces you won lottery you never entered
To claim prize, you must pay taxes, fees, or processing charges upfront
After payment, more fees appear, prize never arrives
Cómo protegerse
- ✓ You cant win what you didnt enter
- ✓ Legitimate lotteries never require upfront fees
- ✓ Never send money for prizes
- ✓ Report to FTC
Preguntas frecuentes
How do lottery scams work?
Scammers contact you claiming you've won a lottery or sweepstakes (often one you never entered). To claim your "prize," you must pay taxes, fees, or processing charges upfront. The prize doesn't exist, and scammers continue requesting more payments.
Can I win a lottery I never entered?
No. You cannot win a legitimate lottery or sweepstakes you didn't enter. If someone contacts you about winnings from a competition you don't remember entering, it's a scam. Legitimate lotteries don't contact winners via email or phone.
Why do scammers ask for fees to claim lottery winnings?
This is the core of the scam - there is no prize. Legitimate lotteries deduct taxes from winnings; they never require winners to pay anything upfront. Any request for payment to claim a prize is fraud.