Foreign Lottery Scams via Cash App
Lottery scammers targeting US victims direct them to send Cash App payments for 'processing fees' or 'tax deposits' to claim non-existent foreign lottery prizes.
Part of: Foreign Lottery Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Cash App has become a vector for foreign lottery scams targeting US-based recipients. The platform's ease of use, low minimum transfers, and younger demographic make it effective for scammers requesting initial 'small' fee payments that escalate rapidly.
Victims believe the prize is real and that each Cash App payment brings them closer to claiming it. Because Cash App peer-to-peer transfers are not covered by buyer protection, the funds are non-recoverable once sent.
How this scam works on Cash App
A victim receives a social media message, email, or text claiming they have won an international lottery or sweepstake. The first fee — presented as a small administrative charge — is requested via Cash App to appear casual and low-stakes.
Once the first payment is made, a sequence of escalating fee demands follows, each sent via Cash App. The victim is reassured by responses and fake receipts that their prize is processing.
Some scammers send a fake 'partial prize deposit' Cash App notification to convince the victim that real funds are incoming and only a release fee is standing in the way.
Common red flags
- Lottery win announcement for a competition you did not enter
- Cash App payment requested for a 'fee' or 'tax' to release the prize
- Scammer sends a fake Cash App deposit notification as proof funds are 'pending'
- Fee demands continue to grow with each payment
- Communication is urgent, preventing you from seeking independent advice
- The 'lottery' cannot be verified on any independently published list of legitimate lotteries
How to protect yourself
- Remember that winning a lottery you did not enter is impossible — any such claim is a scam
- Never send Cash App payments to release a prize — no real lottery operates this way
- Verify supposed incoming Cash App deposits in the app itself rather than trusting screenshots from the scammer
- Cut off contact with the sender immediately and report them
- File a report with the FTC (in the US) and your state attorney general
- Warn family members, particularly older adults, about this scam format
How to report it
- Report the Cash App account involved to Cash App's support team
- File a fraud complaint with the FTC and your state consumer protection office
- Report social media accounts used in the scam to the relevant platform
Frequently asked questions
Can Cash App recover funds sent to a scammer?
Cash App peer-to-peer transfers are generally instant and final. Cash App may be able to assist if a payment was sent to the wrong person by mistake, but payments made to fraudsters who presented themselves as something they are not fall outside the standard dispute process. Report to Cash App and law enforcement promptly.