Is a lottery or prize I didn't enter real?
No. You cannot win a lottery or prize draw you didn't enter. Messages claiming otherwise are scams designed to collect fees or your personal details.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Prize or lottery scams notify you — by email, post, text, or social media — that you have won a large sum, a vehicle, or valuable goods in a draw you have no memory of entering. To claim the prize, you are asked to pay fees, taxes, or admin costs upfront, or to provide personal and banking information for 'transfer processing'.
No legitimate lottery or competition requires winners to pay fees to receive their prize. These upfront costs are the scam — you pay, no prize arrives, and the request for more fees continues until you stop. The personal information gathered can also be used for identity theft.
Common red flags
- You won a lottery or prize you didn't enter
- Fees, taxes, or legal costs required before you can receive the prize
- Request for your banking details to 'transfer' winnings
- Urgency — 'claim within 48 hours or the prize is forfeited'
- Sender cannot be verified through official channels
- The prize value seems very high relative to any stated organisation
What to do now
- Do not pay any fees or provide banking details
- Verify any organisation through official registries before engaging
- Report the message to your email provider or platform and national fraud service
- Delete the message and block the sender
- If you already paid fees, contact your bank and report it
Frequently asked questions
It mentions a real lottery brand — could it still be real?
Scammers routinely use the names of real lotteries to appear credible. Contact the lottery directly through its official website to verify — do not use any contact details provided in the notification.
I did enter a competition recently. Could this be related?
Check the original competition details through the organiser's verified website. Legitimate wins are communicated through official channels, not unexpected emails asking for fees.