Fake Survey / Prize SMS Script
This text message congratulates you on winning a prize or being selected for a paid survey reward, then links to a page asking for a small payment to cover shipping on a 'free' gift. The tiny fee feels harmless next to the promised prize, lowering your guard while the payment page actually captures your full card number, expiry date, and security code, and sometimes enrolls you in a recurring charge. No prize ever arrives. The most important thing to remember is that legitimate prizes never require payment to claim a reward; treat any such request as a scam.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
You've been selected to receive a [item] — just pay [amount] shipping: [fake link]
Congratulations! You completed our survey and won [prize]. Claim before [date]: [fake link]
[Retailer] Customer Reward: you are today's winner of [amount] in credits. Claim your reward: [fake link]
Final reminder: your unclaimed prize expires in 2 hours. Enter your shipping details and pay [amount] to receive it: [fake link]
What the scammer wants
To make the small shipping or handling fee feel like a trivial cost for a valuable prize, while using the payment page to capture full card details for fraud. Some variants also enroll you in a recurring subscription buried in small print.
Red flags in the message
- Prize for a survey or competition you do not recall entering
- Small shipping or handling fee required to claim a free reward
- Link to a domain that is not an official retailer website
- Tight expiry countdown creating urgency
- Page requests full card details to process a minor shipping charge
- No verifiable company name, address, or terms and conditions
- Small print may enroll you in a recurring monthly charge
A safe response
Delete the text. Legitimate prize or reward notifications do not require card details to pay shipping, and real retailers communicate through their verified apps or official emails — not unsolicited texts with third-party links.
What not to send
- Card or bank details to claim a free prize
- Personal address details on an unverified page
- Any shipping or handling fee via a link in the text
What to do if you already replied
- If you entered card details, call your bank immediately to cancel the card
- Check your statement for unexpected recurring charges and cancel them
- Monitor for further phishing using data you may have submitted
- Report the text to your mobile carrier and national fraud body
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times
Frequently asked questions
I never entered a survey or competition — how did I win?
You didn't — these messages are sent at random to large numbers of phone numbers with no actual prize behind them, hoping a small percentage respond. Being 'selected' for something you never entered is itself the clearest sign of a scam.
I already paid the small shipping fee — what happens now?
Check your card statement closely for any additional or recurring charges beyond the one you agreed to, and contact your card issuer to dispute unauthorized amounts or cancel a hidden subscription. Consider requesting a new card number if you're concerned about ongoing misuse.
Is it safe to reply STOP to unsubscribe?
Replying to an unsolicited prize text, even to opt out, can confirm your number is active and lead to more scam messages rather than fewer. It's generally safer to delete the message and block the sender without responding.
How do I recognize a fake prize text versus a real promotional offer?
Genuine competitions you don't remember entering rarely, if ever, contact winners by random text, and legitimate prizes never require payment to receive them. Be especially wary of urgency, generic greetings, and links to unfamiliar payment pages.