CHARITIES SCAMS
A free public service
October 26, 2026
Atribution: US FTC.gov
SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive lawyer in San Mateo, County, California, USA.
Scammers impersonate all kinds of organizations, including reputable charities. And these impersonators sometimes make you believe that you won a charity-sponsored sweepstakes because you’ve donated to that charity. So, if you get a call about a sweepstakes contest you’ve supposedly won from someone who says they’re with a charity you support, how can you tell if the prize is real or a scam?
The moment someone tells you to pay to claim your prize, you know you’re dealing with a scam. Real prizes are free. Only scammers demand you pay or give them personal information like your Social Security number to get a prize.
There are reputable organizations and charities that run sweepstakes, but to stay clear of scams, know this:
- Scammers might use real charities’ names, or names that sound like real charities, when they contact you or place ads on social media or elsewhere. Do some research to be sure you’re dealing with the right charity. Search online for the name of the contest or company with words like “complaint,” “review,” or “scam” to see what others are saying. But 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.
- Scammers can fake caller ID. Don’t trust it, even if it shows a real government agency or company name or phone number.
- Legitimate sweepstakes are free. It’s illegal to ask you to pay or buy something to enter or to increase your odds of winning. Never pay to get your prize. If you do, you’ll end up losing your money…and get even more calls, mail, and spam about sweepstakes.
Spot scammers impersonating well-known charities and sweepstakes
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