StopScams Listen and Learn Workshop
2:00-3:00 PM PT · SF Treasurer's Office
In person · Mission Bay Branch Library, San FranciscoStaying safe onlineGood for: Parents
Scam teardown
The fake “you won a charity sweepstakes” call
By Lajhem Cambridge, Founder of Lorna · Published Oct 29, 2026
Quick answer
No. Real prizes are free. If someone calls to say you won a charity’s sweepstakes and asks for a fee or your Social Security number, it’s a scam. Hang up.
Someone calls and says they’re with a charity you know, maybe one you’ve given money to. They say you won a sweepstakes run by that charity because you donated.
- You have to pay to get your prize. The FTC says it plainly: “Real prizes are free.” Fees called “taxes,” “shipping and handling” or “processing fees” are a scam.
- They ask for your Social Security number or bank details. Only scammers ask for these to give you a prize.
- The caller ID looks real. Scammers can fake caller ID, so a real charity’s name on your screen doesn’t prove anything.
Your calm next step
Hang up. Don’t pay anything or share personal details with someone who says you won. If you want to check, look up the charity yourself. Search its name with words like “complaint,” “review” or “scam,” and scroll past the paid ads at the top of the results. If the same “you won” message comes by text, email or social media, delete it without tapping any links.
Not sure?
Text Lorna and describe the call before you call anyone back. Lorna will help you check if it's real.
Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you already paid, act fast. The sooner you act, the better.Sources:Federal Trade Commission, “Spot scammers impersonating well-known charities and sweepstakes,” October 26, 2026Federal Trade Commission, “Fake Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery Scams”
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