A Charity You Support Says You Won Its Sweepstakes? Here's the Catch

What the FTC warned about on October 26

On October 26, 2026, the FTC posted a consumer alert about scammers who impersonate well-known charities. It said these impersonators "sometimes make you believe that you won a charity-sponsored sweepstakes because you've donated to that charity."

The FTC's test is simple: "The moment someone tells you to pay to claim your prize, you know you're dealing with a scam. Real prizes are free." It adds: "Only scammers demand you pay or give them personal information like your Social Security number to get a prize."

The alert doesn't say how many people have been called or how much they lost. It doesn't name a charity either. It describes a pattern, and the pattern is what to watch for.

This isn't new

Scammers have been using real charities' names to sell fake prizes for years.

On July 26, 2017, Nevada's attorney general warned about phone calls claiming people had won a large reward in a sweepstakes that appeared to be sponsored by a well-known children's charity. In that version, the caller claimed to be from the federal government, such as the FTC or a made-up "Consumer Protection Agency." To get the prize, the "winner" was told to provide banking information or wire money to cover taxes and insurance on the prize.

The attorney general's office said the charity "does not engage in any sweepstakes fundraising," and that "the FTC and other consumer protection agencies are not involved in handing out prizes on behalf of charities." Then-Attorney General Adam Laxalt said: "Con artists will stop at nothing to take advantage of others, including posing as members of a well-known charitable foundation." He urged people "to be skeptical of any caller who asks you to pay for a prize."

A year later, on October 22, 2018, Alabama's attorney general listed the same trick among scammers' charity tactics: "Scammers claim that you'll win a sweepstakes or get a prize if you donate, which is against the law."

What's different in the FTC's 2026 alert is the angle. The caller doesn't just borrow a charity's name. They tell you that you won because you gave.

Why this one feels real

Most prize pitches claim you won at random. This one says you earned it. It uses the name of a charity you actually support, so the "win" feels like a thank-you for something you really did.

That's the hook. Your own giving history makes the call believable. The FTC says scammers "might use real charities' names, or names that sound like real charities," on calls and in ads on social media or elsewhere.

And the number on your screen won't settle it. "Scammers can fake caller ID," the FTC says. "Don't trust it, even if it shows a real government agency or company name or phone number."

A call from "your" charity can feel like talking to a friend. A good habit is to give it the same care you'd give any other call that asks for money or numbers.

The catch: what they ask for next

The FTC's prize-scam guidance lists what the ask usually looks like:

• A fee to release the prize. Pay for "taxes," "shipping and handling charges," "processing fees," or "customs duties" first. The FTC says that means "you're dealing with a scammer."

• Your personal or bank details. The FTC says there's "absolutely no reason" to give your bank account or credit card number, or your Social Security number, to claim any prize.

• Rush. It's "a limited time offer" and you have to "act now."

• A specific way to pay. Wire transfer, a payment app, cash, gift cards or cryptocurrency.

• A check with strings. They send a check and ask you to send some of the money back.

The FTC adds that legitimate sweepstakes "are free and by chance," and it's illegal to make you pay or buy something to enter or improve your odds. Its guidance on donating safely goes further: "Guaranteeing sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a donation is not only a scam, it's illegal."

If you pay anyway, the FTC says, "you'll end up losing your money…and get even more calls, mail, and spam about sweepstakes."

What it looks like

Picture a laptop on a desk. Someone just got a call saying they won a donor prize from a children's charity they give to, and they're doing the smart thing: searching the sweepstakes name. At the top of the results sits a "Sponsored" ad with the charity's name in it, promising to help "claim your donor prize today" if you verify your Social Security number and pay a processing fee. The charity's real website sits just below it.

Next to the laptop is a sticky note from the call: won a donor prize, pay a fee by gift card, confirm your Social Security number, call back by five.

Every line on that note is a red flag the FTC names. The charity, the ad and the websites in our recreation are made up.

Looking it up? Scroll past the ads

Checking online is smart. The FTC suggests searching the contest or company name with words like "complaint," "review," or "scam."

But it also warns: "don't rely on the first search results you see. Sometimes imposters advertise on platforms like Google Search and Bing to lead you to false information. Scroll past the paid ads to help avoid these imposters."

So skip the sponsored results at the top. A good habit is to go to the charity's own website, or use a number from your own records, like a past receipt or thank-you letter.

Signs it's a scam

1. You "won" because you donated. The FTC names this exact pitch.

2. You have to pay to collect. Taxes, fees, insurance, shipping. Real prizes are free.

3. They want your Social Security number or bank details. The FTC says only scammers demand that to give you a prize.

4. They tell you how to pay. Gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps, cash or crypto.

5. The caller ID looks right. That proves nothing. Caller ID can be faked.

6. There's a deadline. "Call back by five." "Today only."

7. They say they're from the government. The Nevada attorney general said the FTC and other consumer protection agencies don't hand out prizes for charities.

8. They thank you for a gift you don't remember. The FTC and Alabama's attorney general both describe scammers thanking people for donations they never made.

What to do if you get the call

1. Don't pay and don't share numbers. The FTC says never pay to get your prize, and that there's "absolutely no reason" to give your bank account or credit card number, or your Social Security number, to claim any prize.

2. Hang up. The Nevada attorney general's 2017 tips say to hang up if a caller asks for money or a wire transfer in exchange for a prize, and to avoid giving bank account information or wiring money over the phone.

3. Contact the charity yourself. The FTC says to look up the real contact information yourself and contact the organization directly, and not to expect the caller to give you the real one. A good habit is to use the charity's official website or your own donation records, and ask if it's running a sweepstakes and whether you won.

4. Search with care. The FTC suggests adding "complaint," "review," or "scam" to the contest name, and scrolling past the paid ads.

There are real charity sweepstakes. The FTC says "there are reputable organizations and charities that run sweepstakes." A real one won't ask you to pay to collect.

If you already paid or shared information

The FTC's prize-scam guidance lists these steps:

• Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

• Contact your state attorney general and your local consumer protection office.

• If the prize promotion came in the mail, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

• If a scammer used your personal information, go to IdentityTheft.gov.

The FTC's guidance on donating safely adds: find your state charity regulator at nasconet.org and report it there too.

If you paid, the FTC says it's always worth asking the company you used to send the money, such as your bank, card issuer, payment app or gift card issuer, if there's a way to get it back. It also says that no matter how you paid a scammer, the sooner you act, the better.

It also makes sense to tell the real charity. In the 2017 case, the Nevada attorney general's release passed along the charity's request that people who got the call let it know.

Helping someone who gives

If a parent or grandparent gives to the same causes year after year, a call that says "you won because you gave" can land hard. A quick, kind word ahead of time is a good habit. The FTC's rule of thumb, "Real prizes are free," fits in one line:

If a charity ever calls to say you won something, call me before you pay or share anything. Real prizes are free.

A good habit is to keep a simple list of the charities they support, with each charity's real website or a number from an old receipt. Then if a "you won" call comes, you both know where to check.

Give safely this season

If you give at year-end, the FTC's guidance on donating safely advises:

• Pay by credit card or check. If someone wants a donation in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don't do it.

• Keep a record of all donations, and review your statements to make sure you're only charged the amount you agreed to give.

• Before giving, search the charity's name plus "complaint," "review," "rating," or "scam."

The Bottom Line

On October 26, 2026, the FTC warned that scammers impersonating real charities tell people they won a charity-sponsored sweepstakes because they donated. Nevada's attorney general warned about sweepstakes calls in a well-known charity's name as far back as 2017. A prize from a charity you support still isn't real if you have to pay for it. Real prizes are free. Hang up, look the charity up yourself, and scroll past the paid ads when you search.

Check Before You Pay

A "thank-you prize" can be the friendliest-sounding scam there is. Get a second look before you pay or share a thing.

For you. If a call, a text, an email or a screenshot of a "you won" ad is what started this, FraudSentry checks it before you pay or share anything: the red flags, how the scheme works and what to do next, in plain English. Get it on the App Store for iPhone or Google Play for Android. New subscribers: try every feature free for 7 days, then $24.99/year (or $3.99/month). Renews automatically, cancel anytime. No account needed. You stay in control.

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Frequently Asked Questions

My caller ID showed the charity's real name. Doesn't that prove it?

No. The FTC says caller ID can be faked, even when it shows a real company name or number.

Do charities ever run real sweepstakes?

Yes. The FTC says reputable organizations and charities do. A real one won't make you pay or give your Social Security number to collect.

They said the fee is just for taxes. Is that different?

No. The FTC lists "taxes," "shipping and handling charges," "processing fees" and "customs duties" as signs of a prize scam.

Can a donation buy me a better chance to win?

No. The FTC says it's illegal to ask you to pay or buy something to enter a sweepstakes or to increase your odds of winning.

The caller said they were from the FTC. Does the government hand out charity prizes?

No. Nevada's attorney general said the FTC and other consumer protection agencies are not involved in handing out prizes on behalf of charities.

Sources

• Spot scammers impersonating well-known charities and sweepstakes — Federal Trade Commission
• Fake Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery Scams — Federal Trade Commission
• Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams — Federal Trade Commission
• Attorney General Laxalt Warns of Fraudulent … Sweepstakes Scam — Nevada Attorney General
• What To Do if You Were Scammed — Federal Trade Commission
• Attorney General Steve Marshall Joins in First International Charity Fraud Awareness Week, October 22-26 — Attorney General of Alabama