FTC: scammers posing as well-known charities say you won a "charity sweepstakes," then ask you to pay or give your Social Security number
Checked
If you have to pay or share your Social Security number to collect a prize, it is a scam. Hang up, check the charity yourself and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How to protect yourself
Who is affected
Anyone who gives to charity or gets a call about a prize. The FTC says these impersonators sometimes target people by claiming they won because they donated to that charity. The FTC does not publish a count of reports for this scheme.
What happened
In an Oct 26, 2026 consumer alert, the FTC warns that scammers impersonate reputable charities and sometimes make people believe they won a charity-sponsored sweepstakes because they have donated to that charity. The FTC says the moment someone tells you to pay to claim your prize, you are dealing with a scam, and that only scammers demand you pay or give personal information like your Social Security number to get a prize. It says scammers may use real charities' names, or names that sound like real charities, when they call or place ads on social media and elsewhere. They can also fake caller ID, even to show a real agency or company name or number.
- Red flag: you are told you won something you never entered.
- Red flag: you must pay a fee, such as "taxes," "shipping" or "processing," to collect. The FTC's prize scam page lists these.
- Red flag: you are asked for your Social Security number, bank account or card number to claim it.
- Red flag: you are rushed to act now, or told to pay by wire, gift card, payment app, cash or cryptocurrency.
What to do now
- Never pay to get a prize. The FTC says real prizes are free, and that it is illegal to ask you to pay or buy something to enter or to raise your odds of winning.
- Don't give your Social Security number, bank details or card number to claim anything.
- Don't trust caller ID. The FTC says scammers can fake it.
- Our advice: hang up, then look up the charity's contact information yourself and ask them directly. Don't use a number the caller gives you.
- Research the name of the contest or company with words like "complaint," "review" or "scam." The FTC says not to rely on the first search results, because impostors sometimes buy ads on Google Search and Bing. Scroll past the paid ads.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC's prize scam page also suggests your state attorney general, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service if the offer came in the mail. If you gave out personal information, go to IdentityTheft.gov.
Dates
- Event date: the FTC alert gives no start date for the scheme.
- Published: Oct 26, 2026 (FTC consumer alert).
- Date checked: Oct 26, 2026.