Fake Competition Scams on Facebook
How fraudulent giveaway and competition posts on Facebook harvest personal data, charge claim fees, or steal account credentials from users who believe they have won a prize.
Part of: Fake Competition Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Facebook is the dominant platform for fake competition and giveaway fraud because its sharing mechanics allow fraudulent posts to spread rapidly through genuine social networks. A post appearing to offer a prize draw from a well-known brand — a car manufacturer, a supermarket, an airline — may be shared thousands of times by real users before the deception is identified, vastly extending its reach through trusted social connections.
The participation mechanics vary: some require liking and sharing the post, some direct users to an external site where they 'enter' by providing personal data, and others proceed to a 'winner notification' stage where a fee or personal credential is requested to claim the prize. In all cases, no prize exists.
Fake competition posts also harvest engagement signals that give the page broader organic reach, allowing the same page to be repurposed for other fraud.
How this scam works on Facebook
A Facebook post from a page using a well-known brand's name and logo announces a major giveaway: a luxury vehicle, a holiday, or a large cash prize. To enter, users are asked to like the page, share the post, and comment with a specified phrase. The post rapidly accumulates shares and comments from genuine users.
Winners are 'selected' and notified via Messenger. The winning notification is personalised and references the original post. To claim the prize, the winner must visit an external website, complete a form with personal details, and pay a small processing or delivery fee. Credit card details are collected at the payment stage.
In credential-harvesting variants, the prize claim process directs the user to log in with their Facebook credentials on a phishing page that captures their username and password.
Common red flags
- Competition post uses a brand's name and logo but is not posted from the brand's verified official page
- Prize value is disproportionately high relative to the entry effort
- Winning notification arrives by Messenger from a page or person, not through the original competition post
- Claiming the prize requires a processing, delivery, or administration fee
- Prize claim directs you to an external website that asks for login credentials
- Competition page was created recently and has no history of prior brand content or genuine engagement
How to protect yourself
- Verify any brand competition by searching the brand's official verified Facebook page directly
- Legitimate brand giveaways on Facebook are posted from verified brand pages with a blue checkmark
- Never pay a fee to claim a prize — legitimate competitions cover all costs of prize fulfilment
- Do not enter Facebook credentials on any external website reached through a competition link
- Use Facebook's 'Report > Scam or fraud' option on any suspicious competition post or winner notification
How to report it
- Report the fraudulent page and post to Facebook using the built-in report function
- Report to the brand being impersonated so they can submit a counterfeit report to Facebook
- File a report with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov if money or account access was lost
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a Facebook competition is from a real brand?
Check that the post comes from the brand's verified official page — look for the blue verification checkmark and consistent posting history. Search the brand's name directly on Facebook rather than following a shared post link.
Why do fake competitions ask me to share the post?
Shares increase the post's reach exponentially through genuine social networks, dramatically expanding the number of potential victims at no cost to the scammer. The engagement also helps the fraudulent page appear more active and credible.