Friday, November 13, 2026 Official warnings, in plain English

Cyber Safety Today

Is this real? · Texts and calls

Is that call saying you won a charity sweepstakes real?

The short answer

If the caller asks you to pay, or to give personal information like your Social Security number, to get the prize, the FTC says only scammers do that. Real prizes are free. Do not pay, and research the charity yourself.

Official warning dated October 26, 2026Published November 13, 2026Checked against sources November 13, 2026Written by software from the sources listed

Someone calls to say you won a sweepstakes. They say they are with a charity you support, and that you were entered because you gave to it. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that scammers pretend to be well-known charities and use this story to get money or personal information.1

There is one clear test. The moment someone tells you to pay to claim your prize, the FTC says you know you are dealing with a scam. Real prizes are free. Only scammers demand you pay, or give personal information like your Social Security number, to get a prize.1

Some real organizations and charities do run sweepstakes. So a call about a prize is not proof of a scam by itself. A request for money is.1

This is an example of what such a call might sound like, based on what the FTC describes:

The messageAn example of the pattern, not a real message

Hello, I’m calling from [charity name]. Because you donated last year, you have won our sweepstakes. To release your prize, we just need a processing fee and your Social Security number.

How to tell

  • You have to pay to get the prize. That includes taxes, shipping and handling, processing fees or customs duties. The FTC says if you have to pay to get your prize, it is a scam.2
  • They ask for personal or bank details. There is no reason to ever give your bank account or credit card number to claim a prize.2
  • They want gift cards, cash, crypto or a wire. Scammers often ask you to pay this way to get your prize.2
  • The charity name sounds close, but not quite right. Scammers use real charity names, or names that sound like real ones, in calls and in ads on social media and elsewhere.1
  • The caller ID looks official. Scammers can fake caller ID, even to show a real company or government agency name or phone number.1
  • They say paying improves your odds. Real sweepstakes are free and by chance. The FTC says it is illegal to ask you to pay or buy something to enter or to increase your odds of winning.1

What to do

  1. Do not pay, and do not give your Social Security number, bank account or card number to the caller.12
  2. Research the charity yourself before you do anything else. Search for the name of the contest or company with words like “complaint,” “review” or “scam.”1
  3. Do not rely on the first search results. Imposters sometimes buy ads on search sites to send you to false information. Scroll past the paid ads.1
  4. If you want to give to that charity, the FTC suggests paying by credit card or check, never cash, gift card or wire.3

If you already paid

  1. Act quickly. The FTC says the sooner you act, the better.2
  2. If you paid with a gift card, contact the company that issued it right away, using the number on the back of the card. Tell them a scammer tricked you and ask for your money back.4
  3. If you paid by credit or debit card, report it to the card issuer or your bank right away and ask for a refund.4
  4. If you sent money through a wire transfer company, report it to that company right away and ask for a refund.4
  5. If you gave your Social Security number and it was used, go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it and get a recovery plan.4

If you do pay, the FTC says you will lose your money and may get even more calls, mail and spam about sweepstakes.1

Where to report it

  • The FTC. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.2
  • Your state. Contact your state attorney general and your local consumer protection office.2