If you get a call, email, or text that you’ve won a prize, you may initially feel excited. Who wouldn’t love to come into some extra cash or a valuable prize?
But before you act, pause, and make sure the notification you received is legitimate by following these steps below.
Fraudsters love to play off emotions, so they may pose as a company awarding you a prize to get your excitement up and your guard down. But ultimately, their goal is to get their hands on your cash, leaving you with no prize and less money in your wallet.
If you’re contacted about winning a prize, ask yourself these questions before you move to claim it:
Sweepstakes scams may vary slightly, but the same red flags are usually present. These include:
If you’ve been targeted by the this type of scam, there are several steps you should take. These include reporting it to your financial institution, especially if you provided account information to the scammer, working with local police, and taking steps to protect your identity from being further misused in the future.
One of the best things you can do to protect yourself from any scam is to stay informed about fraudulent trends. For more information about common scams and how to keep your money and identity safe, visit our blog.