How do I spot a fake prize redemption website?
Fake prize sites tell you that you have won through a survey, scratch card, or loyalty programme and ask for a processing fee or card details — real prizes do not require payment to release.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Prize redemption fraud combines the appeal of winning with the friction of a 'small' payment designed to feel like a reasonable administrative step. The entry point is usually a survey completion page, a scratch card in a branded mailer, or a pop-up on a website claiming you are the millionth visitor. All lead to the same end: a convincing prize notification page.
The site typically displays a specific cash amount, a holiday, or an expensive product you have 'won'. To proceed, you are asked to enter a small processing or postage fee. When you enter your card details, the fee is charged — and either additional charges follow, or your card details are used for larger fraudulent transactions later.
Branded surveys are a related variant: you are invited to take a short survey for a well-known brand and offered a gift as compensation. The survey is real but the gift collection requires your card details for a 'nominal shipping fee'. The gift never arrives and your card is misused.
Legitimate prize promotions in the UK are regulated by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP). They must have open entry, must not require purchase, and must never charge fees to claim. In the US, FTC regulations prohibit requiring payment or purchase as a condition of winning a prize. Any fee requirement to collect a prize is illegal in these jurisdictions.
Common red flags
- You must pay a processing, shipping, or administration fee to receive your prize
- Prize site was reached through a pop-up claiming you are a specially selected visitor
- The brand running the promotion cannot be verified through its official website
- Card details are requested before the prize is dispatched
- Prize terms and conditions reference an unfamiliar governing body
What to do now
- Do not pay any fee to claim a prize
- Search the promotion name plus 'scam' before engaging
- Report fake prize sites to the Advertising Standards Authority (UK) or FTC (US)
- Report to Action Fraud (UK) or ReportFraud.ftc.gov (US)
- If you entered card details, contact your bank and monitor for follow-on charges
Frequently asked questions
Are all online survey rewards fake?
No. Legitimate market research panels (YouGov, Ipsos i-Say) pay modest rewards through verified platforms. The difference is they do not ask for card details for delivery.
What is the 'millionth visitor' pop-up?
It is a common scareware/prize lure that appears on compromised or ad-supported websites. It is never real — the counter is randomly generated to create the impression of personal selection.
Can a brand really select me randomly in a survey reward?
Major brands do run real customer appreciation promotions, but they announce them publicly through their official channels and never require card details to claim.