Second-Chance Lottery Scams via SMS
How fraudulent text messages impersonate state lottery second-chance programmes to harvest player credentials and charge entry fees for draws that do not exist.
Part of: Second-Chance Lottery Scams
Last reviewed: 9 June 2026
SMS-based second-chance lottery fraud exploits the growing use of text messaging by genuine lottery operators for promotional notifications. State lotteries in many jurisdictions do communicate with players by text for account updates and draw notifications, which means a text claiming to be from a lottery's second-chance programme arrives in a context where such messages are not inherently implausible.
The SMS format is particularly effective for second-chance lottery fraud because lottery players are a self-selected group already engaging with chance-based value propositions. A text about an additional chance to win from tickets they have already purchased requires no behavioural change from the target — just a follow-through on an apparent existing ticket entry.
The credential-harvesting risk is especially significant in this variant: lottery account logins collected through phishing SMS links can be used to drain real accumulated second-chance entries and any stored payment methods.
How this scam works on SMS
A text message arrives using the name of a state lottery, informing the recipient that a recent ticket number has been entered in the second-chance draw and that they may have won or are eligible to confirm their entry for an upcoming draw. A link is provided.
The link leads to a site that closely mimics the real lottery's online portal. The site asks the player to log in with their lottery account credentials to confirm their entry or claim their prize. Alternatively, a small entry confirmation fee is charged via card. Credentials collected are used to access and exploit the real account.
In direct fee-extraction variants, the text claims the player has won a second-chance prize but must pay a processing charge before the funds are released.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited text from a lottery about a second-chance entry or prize win
- Link in the text leads to a website with a URL that does not precisely match the official lottery domain
- Website requests lottery account login credentials
- Fee required to confirm second-chance entry or release a prize
- Message creates urgency: entry closes tonight, prize claim expires in 24 hours
- Sender number is a standard mobile number rather than a recognised lottery short code or sender name
How to protect yourself
- Register second-chance lottery entries only through the official lottery website accessed directly via your browser
- Never click links in lottery SMS messages — always navigate directly to the official site
- Legitimate second-chance programmes do not charge entry fees
- Never share lottery account credentials through any link received by SMS
- Contact the official lottery directly if you suspect your account has been compromised
How to report it
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Notify the official lottery organisation so they can warn their player base
- Report to your state gaming commission if a state lottery identity was impersonated
Frequently asked questions
Do state lotteries contact players by text about second-chance entries?
Some lotteries do send promotional texts to registered players, but they never ask for login credentials through an SMS link or charge fees for second-chance entry. Always navigate to the lottery's official website independently to check your account rather than following any SMS link.