Prize Notification Scams on X (Twitter)
X accounts impersonating brands and celebrities send DMs or reply to users claiming they have won a prize, directing them to phishing pages to claim awards that do not exist.
Part of: Prize Notification Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Prize notification fraud on X exploits the platform's reply and DM functions to reach users who have recently engaged with brand content, complained publicly, or entered genuine competitions. An account that mimics a brand's verified profile — using a similar username, logo, and posting style — can be difficult to distinguish from the real thing at a glance.
X's firehose of public conversation means a single brand mention or competition hashtag can generate thousands of potential targets for fake winner notifications, all of which can be automated through the platform's API.
How this scam works on X (Twitter)
A user tweets about a brand, uses a competition hashtag, or replies to a brand's post. Shortly after, a reply or DM arrives from an account with a username close to the brand's verified handle, congratulating them on being selected as a winner. The message includes a link to claim the prize on an external page.
The external page requests the winner's address, date of birth, and card details for 'prize insurance' or 'delivery fee'. Some pages also request social media login credentials to 'verify the winning account'.
Some operators set up dedicated winner-notification accounts that operate continuously, scanning brand-related hashtags and reply threads for fresh targets.
Common red flags
- X reply or DM claiming you have won a prize from a brand account you recently engaged with
- Account username that is similar to but not identical to the brand's verified account
- Link to an external page requesting card details or a delivery fee to claim the prize
- Request for your social media login to 'verify' your winning account
- No corresponding winner announcement visible on the brand's verified account timeline
How to protect yourself
- Verify prize wins by checking the brand's actual verified X account timeline for a corresponding announcement
- Never follow a prize claim link in a DM — go to the brand's official website directly
- Do not pay any delivery fee or provide card details to claim a social media prize
- Report the impersonating account using X's 'Report' function and select 'Impersonation'
- Alert the genuine brand by tagging their verified account so they can warn followers
How to report it
- Use X's 'Report' function and select 'They're pretending to be someone I know' or 'Impersonating a brand'
- Tag the brand's verified account to alert them to the impersonation
- Report to your national consumer protection authority if personal or financial data was submitted
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell the difference between a brand's real X account and an impersonator?
Check for X's verification badge and confirm the username exactly matches the brand's official account as listed on their website. Impersonators often add underscores, extra words, or substitute similar characters. Also check how long the account has been active and whether the username has any posting history before the prize notification.