Fake Charity Lottery Scams via Email
How fraudulent charity lottery emails claim recipients have won prizes, then charge fees to release winnings that do not exist.
Part of: Fake Charity Lottery Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Charity lotteries — where a portion of ticket proceeds funds a charitable cause — are legitimate fundraising tools used by many registered charities. Fraudsters have adapted the lottery concept into an advance-fee fraud vehicle: sending emails claiming the recipient has won a charity lottery draw, then charging release or processing fees for winnings that were never real.
The charity framing adds a layer of perceived legitimacy and emotional appeal that distinguishes these scams from generic lottery fraud. Recipients may feel that even if there is some complexity about the process, the underlying cause is worthy and their eventual winnings will reflect positively on an organisation doing good work. This emotional framing reduces scepticism at the point when a fee request is made.
How this scam works on email
An email arrives claiming the recipient has won a charity lottery. The email may reference a genuine charity's name and logo without authorisation, or may describe a plausible-sounding charitable organisation. A prize amount is specified — often a large sum — and the email provides a claim reference number and instructions for collecting the prize.
To claim the winnings, the recipient is asked to pay a handling fee, insurance cost, legal release fee, or charitable levy — framed as a small percentage of the total prize. After payment, further fees are requested: currency conversion charges, tax clearance, or compliance certifications. No prize is ever paid and the email contact eventually becomes unreachable.
Some versions of the scam include a follow-up phone call from someone posing as a lottery officer or charity representative, adding a personal interaction that makes the scheme feel more credible before the final fee request.
Common red flags
- You receive a lottery winning notification for a draw you did not enter
- Prize release requires payment of any fee, regardless of how it is described or framed
- Charity name in the email cannot be found in an official charity registry
- Email address does not match the domain of any verifiable organisation
- Prize amount is exceptionally large with implausibly favourable odds described
- Each fee payment leads to an additional fee requirement
How to protect yourself
- Understand that you cannot win a lottery you did not enter — any such notification is fraudulent
- Verify the named charity through official charity registries before engaging further
- Never pay any fee to collect a lottery prize; legitimate lotteries deduct taxes and charges from the winnings themselves
- Report and delete the email without providing any personal information or financial details
- Use your email provider's phishing reporting tool to flag the message
How to report it
- Report the email to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or IC3 at ic3.gov
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk (UK)
- Forward the email to [email protected]
- If the email misuses a real charity's name, notify that charity so they can alert donors
Frequently asked questions
Why do charity lottery scams use well-known charity names?
Using a recognised charity name borrows credibility from an organisation the recipient may already trust. It also means that recipients who search for the charity name will find real, positive information, reinforcing the impression that the lottery communication is genuine.
Could the email be from a legitimate charity lottery I forgot I entered?
Only if you can recall entering and have records of doing so. Legitimate charity lotteries have verifiable records of entrants and do not require fee payments to release prizes. If you are genuinely uncertain, contact the charity directly through their official website to verify.