Fake Lottery Winner Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers claim you've won a lottery and demand fees to collect. You can't win contests you didn't enter. FBI IC3: 3,690 complaints, $102M losses in 2024.
emailphonemail+1
→1 confirmed active threats
🎰Prize & Lottery Scams
Lottery scams caused $102M across 3,690 complaints in 2024. Victims told they won money but must pay fees to collect. Includes fake sweepstakes, foreign lotteries, inheritance scams. You can't win contests you didn't enter.
$102Min reported losses, 2024(IC3)3 690 complaints
1
Patterns Documented
1
Confirmed Threats
0
High Risk
$16.6B
Reported Losses, 2024 (IC3)
Data sourced from FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report. Data reflects complaints submitted to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and may not represent all incidents. ZeroScam is an educational tool and is not affiliated with the FBI.
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Clear filter ×All Patterns (85)₿ Cryptocurrency Scams(4)$6.6B💳 Payment & BEC Scams(9)$2.8B💻 Tech Support Scams(5)$1.5B🔓 Personal Data Breach(2)$1.5B🛒 Online Purchase Scams(5)💔 Romance Scams(3)🏛️ Government Impersonation(6)🏢 Corporate Data Breach(3)💼 Job & Employment Scams(6)🏧 Crypto ATM & Kiosk Scams(3)🥇 Gold Courier Scams(2)🪪 Identity Theft(3)🏠 Rental Scams(2)🔒 Extortion & Blackmail(1)🎰 Prize & Lottery Scams(1)🎣 Phishing & Smishing(3)📦 Delivery & Shipping Scams(4)🎭 Impersonation Scams(4)🤖 AI-Powered Scams(5)📱 Social Media Scams(2)📞 Telemarketing Scams(1)🏥 Healthcare Scams(1)🏦 Financial Service Scams(2)🔧 Service Provider Scams(2)🎗️ Charity Scams(1)🗳️ Election & Civic Scams(2)🧬 Synthetic Identity Fraud(2)🔄 Recovery Scams(1)
Threat Levels
CONFIRMED THREAT— Actively reported to FBI IC3
HIGH RISK— Significant victim reports
EMERGING— Recently identified pattern
Common Questions About Prize & Lottery Scams
Can I win a lottery I didn't enter?▼
No. If you didn't enter, you can't win. Any such notification is a scam.
Do I pay taxes upfront for lottery winnings?▼
No. Real taxes are deducted automatically or reported on your return. Never pay upfront.
Is Publishers Clearing House real?▼
PCH is real but heavily impersonated. Real PCH never calls asking for payment and awards in person with cameras.
I got a check with my winnings — real?▼
No. The check is fake and will bounce. Don't deposit it.
📖 How to Use This Database
- ✓Browse patterns to learn scammer tactics before you encounter them
- ✓Share specific pattern pages with family members who may be targeted
- ✓Use our scanner to check suspicious messages against all 85 patterns
- ✓Report scams to FBI IC3 and FTC using links on each pattern page
⚖️ Important Information
This database is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Pattern data is derived from publicly available FBI IC3 reports and ongoing research.
ZeroScam does not guarantee detection of all scams. Always exercise caution and verify independently before sending money or personal information.
Not legal or financial advice. If you have been victimized, contact local law enforcement and file reports with FBI IC3 and FTC.
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73% of Americans report being targeted(Pew Research, 2025 survey)
|$470M reported in text-related fraud(FTC, 2024)
|$16.6B in total reported losses(FBI IC3, 2024)