If you get a call or email saying you’ve “won a prize,” why follow whatever the caller or writer tells you to do to claim it?
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – If you get a call or email saying you’ve “won a prize,” why follow whatever the caller or writer tells you to do to claim it?
Because it’s most likely a scam — especially if it’s for a contest you didn’t enter, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC in March reported a surge in random calls and texts claiming victims have won cash, cars or electronics. Before the lucky recipients can claim their prizes, however, they must pay taxes, processing fees, or shipping and handling charges.
Scammers use artificial urgency — claiming it’s a “limited-time offer” — to stop people from thinking clearly. They often insist on payment methods such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, all of which are difficult to trace.
Bottom line: If they say there’s a charge to get your prize, it’s a scam. If you pay, you’ll end up losing money instead of winning anything.
Protect yourself
Never pay to play: A real prize is always free. If you are asked to pay taxes or fees upfront, it is a scam, the AARP Fraud Watch Network reports.
Verify independently: If a message claims to be from a real company, find the company’s official phone number yourself. Never use the contact information provided in the suspicious message.
Resist the rush: Scammers use urgency to stop you from thinking clearly. If they demand that you act “now” or keep the win a secret, hang up immediately.
