Red flags to stop on
- You are asked to pay taxes, shipping, insurance, processing, customs, or activation fees before receiving a prize.
- The sender requests gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, bank login details, or remote access to your device.
- The message says you won even though you never entered or cannot identify the sponsor.
- The domain, email, or social handle imitates PCH, a retailer, or a media brand but is not the official account.
- There are no official rules, sponsor details, eligibility limits, or clear prize description.
How to verify a prize notice
Navigate directly to the sponsor's official website, search the promotion name, and compare the notice to the published rules. PCH, for example, states that winners never have to pay to claim a prize. If a notice pressures you to act immediately or keep the win secret, treat it as suspicious.
Report suspected scams to the platform where you received them and consider filing reports with consumer-protection agencies if money or sensitive information was involved.