A message says you won a prize. Is it a trick?
You will learn why most prize messages are scams, and how to stay safe.
Getting a you won message feels exciting. Take a breath first.
You cannot win a prize you never entered. That is the simplest test.
Real prizes never ask you to pay a fee first. That part is always a scam.
Try this
- Do not click any link in the message.
- Ask: did I really enter this?
- Never pay money or share bank details to claim a prize.
- Delete the message if it feels wrong.
A message you can copy
I got a message saying I won a prize. Here is what it says: [paste it]. Can you tell me the warning signs that this is a scam?
Paste it into ChatGPT, then change the words in brackets to fit you. It opens in a new tab, so you will not lose this page.
Buddy says
Real prizes do not ask you to pay first. When in doubt, delete it.