How do I handle unexpected prize or winning notifications sent by text or email?
You cannot win a competition you did not enter, and any prize requiring a fee, taxes, or personal details upfront is a scam — delete unsolicited prize notifications without responding.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Unsolicited prize notifications delivered by SMS, email, or social media direct message follow one of two patterns: a lottery or sweepstakes you never entered, or a 'reward' from a brand or service congratulating you on being a 'selected customer.' Both are fraud formats with the same goal: obtaining an upfront payment, your personal information, or both.
The logic test: legitimate sweepstakes must be entered. If you did not fill out an entry form for a specific sweepstakes, you are not a winner. Companies cannot enter you in a sweepstakes without your consent. Any message claiming you were randomly selected for a prize from a pool of people who never knowingly entered is fabricating the contest.
For 'brand reward' texts — 'Congratulations, you have been chosen to receive a free gift from [major retailer], click here' — these are phishing links leading to credential harvesting, survey-loops collecting personal data, or subscription traps. The retailer name is chosen for credibility. Check the sending number or email domain: it will not match the brand's official domain.
Even if a prize notification is from a legitimate-sounding competition you may have vaguely entered, apply the fee test: legitimate prizes do not require advance payment of any kind. Taxes on prizes in the US are the winner's responsibility but are handled when filing taxes, not paid upfront to the prize-giver. Any request for upfront payment — described as taxes, customs, processing, or legal fees — confirms the notification is fraudulent.
Common red flags
- Prize from a competition you do not remember entering
- Required fee of any kind before the prize can be released
- Sending phone number or email domain does not match the claimed brand
- Request for personal details including SSN, passport, or bank account
- Urgency: 'claim within 48 hours or the prize is forfeited'
- Instruction to keep the prize confidential until it is claimed
What to do now
- Delete the message without clicking any link or calling any number
- Search the claimed company name plus 'scam' or 'prize notification' to confirm
- Report the number or sender to 7726 (SPAM) and to the FTC
- If you already provided details, monitor your credit and change any passwords associated with shared information
- Do not pay any fee to claim any prize regardless of how official the message appears
Frequently asked questions
What if I really did enter a competition and receive a winning notification?
Verify by going to the competition's official website, typed directly from the address you used to enter — not from a link in the notification. Check whether your name appears on a verified winners list. Call the company's main customer service line using a number from their official site. Legitimate competitions expect you to verify.
Can responding to a prize text sign me up for a paid subscription?
Yes. Some prize-text scams are subscription traps: responding with a keyword or clicking a link enrolls you in a recurring SMS or service subscription. Check your phone bill for unexpected charges after receiving and interacting with any unsolicited prize message.