Bogus prize draws, lotteries and sweepstakes are common types of financial scam. Find out how to avoid them.
Protect Yourself from Fraud
Do not send any money or personal details to anyone who says that you have won a prize or anything else in a lottery or sweepstake that you have not entered.
Such claims are almost certainly frauds. You may be asked to pay a 'fee' before the 'prize money' is released. Never respond to any such requests for advance payment.
Typical scams may:
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offer access to a winning ticket or the prize in an overseas draw or lottery, or membership of a lottery syndicate, in return for an 'administration' or 'registration' fee
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require a purchase of some kind to receive a 'prize'
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suggest that there are government funds available to be claimed by individuals
Fake Websites and Identity Theft
Some fraudsters set out to steal identities. Do not release personal information such as your passport number, home address, telephone number or banking details to unknown organisations.
Many win notifications contain links to websites purporting to act for the lottery organisers.
Taking the form of financial institutions such as insurance companies, the management of 'lottery' funds will appear as only a minor part of their wider organisation. They may seem professional at first glance, but most do not bear close scrutiny.
Most of these websites have been pirated from genuine organisations. As a result of cutting and pasting you may find that text is inconsistent, spelling irregular and the contacts page will have mobile phone numbers.
