Lottery Scam Basics

🎉 Imagine this: You get an email that reads: "Congratulations! You've won the International Mega Millions Lottery worth $2.5 million. To claim your prize, please reply with your details and pay a small processing fee of $50."

Your heart races. You don't remember buying a ticket — but maybe you entered some contest online? Before you know it, you're convinced you're a millionaire. Unfortunately, this is one of the oldest and most widespread scams in the world.

📊 The Reality: Lottery and sweepstakes scams steal hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Victims are tricked into paying upfront fees or handing over personal information, only to discover there was never any prize to begin with.

👥 Who's at Risk?

Seniors who may trust official-looking letters.

Young adults lured by the promise of easy money.

Anyone who gets caught up in the dream of sudden wealth.

⚠️ Important Religious Consideration: It's worth noting that in Islamic teachings, lotteries and gambling are considered haram (forbidden). Many religious communities have similar teachings about gambling. This means that even legitimate lotteries may conflict with religious beliefs, making it easier to recognize and reject lottery scams.

How Lottery Scams Work

Lottery scams usually follow this pattern: The Win → The Hook → The Payment → The Drain.

The Win 🏆 Victim receives a message (email, text, mail, or social media) saying they've won a big prize.

The Hook 🎣 Scammer builds excitement: "You are one of only 5 grand prize winners!"

The Payment 💳 Victim is asked to pay taxes, fees, or handling charges upfront to "release" the prize.

The Drain 💸 Once the victim pays, scammers ask for more: customs fees, courier charges, legal verification. Payments continue until the victim catches on — or runs out of money.

Real-World Example

In 2021, the RCMP warned Canadians about lottery scams where victims were told they'd won millions in a U.S. sweepstakes. To claim, they were pressured into paying "customs duties" and "release fees." Victims lost tens of thousands before realizing no prize existed.

Religious Protection Note: For those following Islamic teachings, remember that since lotteries are haram, any lottery "win" notification can immediately be recognized as a scam, providing an additional layer of protection against these fraudulent schemes.