Raffle Scams on Facebook
How fraudulent online raffle and charity draw posts on Facebook collect ticket payments for prizes that are never awarded, while often impersonating legitimate charities or fundraisers.
Part of: Raffle Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Facebook is a natural environment for raffle fraud because raffles fit the platform's community and fundraising culture. Genuine charity raffles, local community draws, and small business promotional raffles are commonplace on Facebook, creating a backdrop of legitimate activity against which fraudulent versions are difficult to distinguish without close inspection.
Fraudulent raffles may impersonate real charities, mimic well-known community fundraisers, or invent plausible charitable causes to justify the draw. The combination of low ticket prices, large stated prizes, and an apparent charitable dimension makes participation feel low-risk and socially positive.
Victims typically lose only the ticket price, but the scale of these operations means operators collect significant funds across large numbers of small transactions while awarding no prizes.
How this scam works on Facebook
A Facebook post or group announces a raffle for a significant prize — a vehicle, a holiday, a cash sum — in aid of a named charitable cause. Tickets are priced modestly and can be purchased through a link, Messenger payment, or bank transfer. The post is shared widely within local community groups, giving it an air of genuine community participation.
After the ticket sale closes, the draw 'result' is either never announced, announced with an unverifiable winner, or conducted in a live video that appears genuine but does not correspond to a real selection process. Prize fulfilment never occurs. The organiser's account may be deleted after the draw date.
In charity impersonation variants, the named charity has no connection to the raffle and may not even be aware their name is being used.
Common red flags
- Raffle organiser cannot provide proof of licensing or registration as a lottery or charity raffle operator
- Payment requested by bank transfer directly to a personal account rather than a payment platform
- Charity named in the raffle has no knowledge of the draw when contacted directly
- Draw date and live announcement exist only within the Facebook post or group with no external verification
- Organiser profile was created recently or has limited prior activity
- No independent confirmation of winners from prior draws can be found
How to protect yourself
- Verify that any charity raffle is run by the registered charity itself or an authorised partner
- Check that lottery and raffle operators are licensed under your jurisdiction's gambling or lottery regulations
- Be cautious of any raffle where payment is by direct bank transfer rather than a traceable payment platform
- Look for evidence of past draw results and verifiable winners before purchasing tickets
- Report suspicious raffles to Facebook and to your national gambling or lottery regulator
How to report it
- Report to Facebook using the 'Report > Scam or fraud' option on the post or page
- Notify your national lottery regulator or gambling commission of unlicensed raffle operations
- Report to the real charity if their name was misused without authorisation
Frequently asked questions
Do legitimate charity raffles operate on Facebook?
Yes, but they are conducted by registered charities or licensed operators, use secure payment platforms, and publish verifiable draw results. Always confirm the legitimacy of the organising charity through your national charity regulator before purchasing tickets.