A message says you won a prize, gift card or lottery you never entered, and asks for a 'processing fee' or your details to claim it. It's one of the oldest scams — and still everywhere.
'Congratulations! You won a $1,000 gift card. Claim here: link' — or a request to pay a small 'fee' or 'taxes' to release your prize.
• You won something you never entered • A fee required to receive a prize (real prizes don't work that way) • A request for personal or card details via a link • Pressure to act fast
Don't pay and don't enter details. Legitimate prizes never require an upfront fee. Paste the message into the free checker below.
No. If you're asked to pay to receive a prize, it's a scam.
You didn't. 'You won' messages for contests you never entered are a classic scam hook.