Lottery & Inheritance Scams Explained

Lottery, sweepstakes, or inheritance scams claim you’ve won a prize or inherited money from a distant relative, but you must pay a fee to claim it. Scammers send letters, emails, or calls saying you’re a winner, but after you pay, the prize or inheritance never arrives.

For example, you might get a letter saying you won $1 million in a lottery you never entered, but you need to pay $500 for taxes. You send the money, but the prize is fake. Seniors are targeted because scammers know they may dream of extra money for retirement.

Tips to Identify Lottery/Inheritance Scams

You Can’t Win What You Didn’t Enter: If you didn’t buy a lottery ticket or enter a sweepstakes, it’s a scam. Real wins don’t require fees.

Check the Source: Research the lottery or sender. Legitimate lotteries have official websites and don’t ask for upfront payments.

Avoid Strange Payments: Scammers demand fees via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Real prizes deduct taxes from the winnings.

Look for Fake Letters: Scam letters often have typos, fake logos, or vague details about the prize or inheritance.

Be Wary of Foreign Claims: Many scams claim you won an overseas lottery or inherited from abroad. These are almost always fake.

Talk to Someone: Share the news with a trusted friend or family member to check if it’s real before paying anything.