I "won" a lottery I'd never even entered

A letter and email said I had won a lottery I never entered—jackpot abroad, my name “randomly selected.”

The paperwork looked formal enough that I let hope win for a day.

To release the prize I had to pay taxes, processing, and legal fees up front.

I sent the first wire; they immediately asked for a second “hold” payment.

Fake lottery scams sell prizes that do not exist.

Real lotteries do not ask winners to prepay fees by wire or gift card.

While I paid I pictured paying down debt; stopping felt like throwing away money I had already sent.

When I searched the “lottery” name plus scam, the exact letter text appeared on a consumer warning site.

The fees I sent were gone; I felt foolish explaining it to my partner.

You cannot win a lottery you did not enter.

Upfront fees for a “prize” are always fraud.

• Legitimate lotteries do not require wire or gift-card fees to claim winnings.
• Report to the FTC (US) or your national fraud centre.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.