If you didn't enter, you can't win. 100% of unsolicited emails claiming you've won a lottery or prize are scams. They will ask for fees, taxes, or personal info before the prize arrives — which never does.
About this scam type: Emails saying you won a lottery, sweepstakes, or prize
ScamRadar verdict: scam · Risk score: 99/100
From: claims@uk-international-lottery.org Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION - $2,750,000 USD Dear Winner, your email address was randomly selected by computer ballot from the UK National Lottery international promotion. To claim your prize of $2,750,000, please remit a $1,275 processing and tax-clearance fee to our claims agent by Western Union within 7 days.
You cannot win a lottery you didn't enter, and no legitimate lottery requires winners to pay fees upfront. Every fee is a permanent loss, and there is no prize.
If you sent the fee by wire transfer, contact Western Union (1-800-448-1492) or MoneyGram (1-800-666-3947) immediately to request a transfer freeze — recovery is only possible before pickup. If you sent gift cards, call the issuer (Apple 1-800-275-2273, Google Play, Target Guest Services) with the card numbers — recovery is rare but possible if reported within hours. If you provided bank account or Social Security number, place a fraud alert and credit freeze with all three bureaus, file at IdentityTheft.gov, and contact your bank. File reports at reportfraud.ftc.gov, FBI IC3 at ic3.gov, and the US Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report if any mail was involved. Most importantly, expect follow-up scams — the same scammer or affiliated networks will contact you again with 'recovery offers' that are themselves scams targeting victims twice.
You cannot win a lottery you didn't enter. Legitimate lotteries (state lotteries, Powerball, Mega Millions) notify winners only when winners come forward with a winning ticket — they never email or call winners. Legitimate lotteries also never charge fees, taxes, or 'processing costs' upfront. Federal taxes on lottery winnings are withheld from the prize itself, not paid in advance. International lottery solicitations to US residents are themselves a federal crime under the Lottery Mail Statute regardless of intent.
No. Legitimate lotteries require ticket purchase, and winners are determined only when they come forward with the ticket. Any email, call, or letter claiming you won a lottery you didn't enter is a scam.
Never. Real lottery prizes have taxes withheld from the prize amount itself, not paid upfront. Any 'processing fee,' 'tax fee,' 'release fee,' or 'security deposit' to claim a prize is the entire scam.
Contact your wire service or gift card issuer immediately for possible recovery. File reports with the FTC, FBI IC3, and US Postal Inspection Service. Expect follow-up scams from the same network — block all contact and warn family members.
International lottery scams exploit the unfamiliarity of foreign legal systems and the appearance of grand legitimacy. The UK National Lottery, Spanish El Gordo, and Australian Lotto are commonly impersonated. None of these institutions notify international winners by email.
File at FTC reportfraud.ftc.gov, FBI IC3 ic3.gov, and US Postal Inspection Service uspis.gov/report. Save all emails, letters, and payment records as evidence.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-24 by the ScamRadar editorial team. We update this page when scammer tactics change or when official agencies issue new guidance.
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