WhatsApp Scam Reports

# Lottery / Prize Scam

## What is a Lottery / Prize Scam scam?

You are told you have won a lottery, sweepstakes, or gift you never entered, then asked to pay a "processing" or "customs" fee before the (nonexistent) prize can be released.

## Red flags to watch for

- You don't remember entering whatever lottery, sweepstakes, or giveaway they say you won.
- A "processing," "customs," or "release" fee is required before you can receive the prize.
- The message uses a real brand name (a lottery, a courier, a tech company) with no official channel to verify it.
- There's pressure to respond or pay within a short deadline.

## What to do

Remember that a legitimate prize never requires you to pay a fee to receive it. Verify any named organization through its own official channels, independent of the contact details in the message, before responding further.

## How common this is, officially

> IC3's "Lottery/Sweepstakes/Inheritance" category received 5,623 complaints in 2025, with reported losses of $194 million.

— FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, [2025 Internet Crime Report](https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2025_IC3Report.pdf)

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## Frequently asked questions

### How is a scam type determined for a report?

The reporter selects it when filing, from a fixed list of common patterns -- not inferred automatically from the notes.

### What if a report matches more than one pattern?

Reporters pick the single closest match. Read the notes on each report for the full description, which often blends more than one tactic.

### How often is this page updated?

Immediately — every count here reflects the reports on file in real time, not a periodic snapshot.

## Report this to official agencies

This case file is a self-reported community record, not an official investigation. If you were targeted, consider also filing a report with a national or international fraud authority:

- [FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)](https://www.ic3.gov) United States
- [Federal Trade Commission (FTC)](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov) United States
- [Action Fraud](https://www.actionfraud.police.uk) United Kingdom
- [Scamwatch (ACCC)](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au) Australia
- [Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca) Canada
- [CERT NZ](https://www.cert.govt.nz) New Zealand
- [National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal](https://cybercrime.gov.in) India
- [ScamShield](https://www.scamshield.gov.sg) Singapore
- [Anti-Deception Coordination Centre](https://www.cyberdefender.hk) Hong Kong
- [Europol](https://www.europol.europa.eu) European Union
- [INTERPOL](https://www.interpol.int) Global
- [econsumer.gov (ICPEN)](https://www.econsumer.gov) Cross-border complaints

## Been targeted by a scammer?

File a report with the number, name, and what happened — it's published immediately and warns the next person who searches.

[Report a scammer](https://scammercasefile.com/report)