Lottery Advance-Fee Fraud

Lottery advance-fee fraud is a variant of the classic advance-fee scam (419 fraud) dressed up as prize notification. Victims receive an unsolicited letter, email, or phone call telling them they have won a substantial lottery, sweepstake, or international prize. A realistic-looking certificate, cheque image, or official document may accompany the message.

To claim the winnings, the victim is told they must pay fees: administrative charges, government taxes, legal costs, courier fees, or a security deposit. Each payment is followed by a reason another fee is required before the prize can be released. There is never a payout — the prize does not exist and never existed. Losses are compounded each time the victim sends more money believing the prize is still within reach.

The scam relies on the truism that it is impossible to win a lottery you did not enter. Legitimate lotteries never deduct fees from winnings in advance — taxes and charges are handled at the point of payout. Unsolicited prize notifications should always be treated as fraudulent regardless of how official they appear.