$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
sweepstakes phone call scam targeting seniors
Callers tell seniors they have won a sweepstakes or lottery and must pay taxes or fees upfront to claim the prize, which does not exist.
“senior scam”
↑ 292%Key indicators
Usually targetsSeniors
Often hitsRetirees and seniors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.4K
median reported loss
Typical range$90 – $9.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers call seniors claiming they have won a large sweepstakes or lottery prize, often impersonating Publishers Clearing House or similar organizations.
2
To claim the prize, the victim is told to pay upfront fees for taxes, insurance, or processing, often via untraceable methods like gift cards or wire transfers.
3
After payment, the scammer either disappears or continues requesting additional fees, sometimes stringing victims along for months or years.
What to do first
Remember that legitimate sweepstakes never require upfront payment — it is illegal under US and Canadian law.
Related terms
fake lottery callprize notification scamPublishers Clearing House scamSenior-targeted scamsPhoneRisingSeniorsOlder adultsRetirees and seniorsImmigrants and visa holdersUnited StatesCanadafake lottery callprize notification scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Rebecca, 72, a seniors, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate senior-targeted scams situation while using Phone. Scammers call seniors claiming they have won a large sweepstakes or lottery prize, often impersonating Publishers Clearing House or similar organizations.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: To claim the prize, the victim is told to pay upfront fees for taxes, insurance, or processing, often via untraceable methods like gift cards or wire transfers.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: After payment, the scammer either disappears or continues requesting additional fees, sometimes stringing victims along for months or years.
The outcome
Rebecca realized something was wrong when you are told you won a contest you never entered. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Remember that legitimate sweepstakes never require upfront payment — it is illegal under US and Canadian law. Rebecca's experience shows why you are told you won a contest you never entered and you must pay taxes, shipping, or processing fees before receiving the prize are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- You are told you won a contest you never entered
- You must pay taxes, shipping, or processing fees before receiving the prize
- Caller insists on payment via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Remember that legitimate sweepstakes never require upfront payment — it is illegal under US and Canadian law.
- ✓Hang up and verify directly with the organization supposedly offering the prize using contact info from their official website.
- ✓Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 if in Canada.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC reported that prize, sweepstakes, and lottery scams were the most common fraud type affecting adults over 60, with median losses of 907 USD per victim in 2023.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Remember that legitimate sweepstakes never require upfront payment — it is illegal under US and Canadian law.
- ✓Hang up and verify directly with the organization supposedly offering the prize using contact info from their official website.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC reported that prize, sweepstakes, and lottery scams were the most common fraud type affecting adults over 60, with median losses of 907 USD per victim in 2023.
FTC Protecting Older Consumers Report 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Seniors, Older adults
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Phone — Senior-targeted scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Seniors are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC reported that prize, sweepstakes, and lottery scams were the most common fraud type affecting adults over 60, with median losses of 907 USD per victim in 2023.
Source notes
- FTC Protecting Older Consumers Report 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about sweepstakes phone call scam targeting seniors
How does the sweepstakes phone call scam targeting seniors work?+
Scammers call seniors claiming they have won a large sweepstakes or lottery prize, often impersonating Publishers Clearing House or similar organizations. To claim the prize, the victim is told to pay upfront fees for taxes, insurance, or processing, often via untraceable methods like gift cards or wire transfers. After payment, the scammer either disappears or continues requesting additional fees, sometimes stringing victims along for months or years.
What are the warning signs of sweepstakes phone call scam targeting seniors?+
You are told you won a contest you never entered You must pay taxes, shipping, or processing fees before receiving the prize Caller insists on payment via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
What should I do if I encounter sweepstakes phone call scam targeting seniors?+
Remember that legitimate sweepstakes never require upfront payment — it is illegal under US and Canadian law. Hang up and verify directly with the organization supposedly offering the prize using contact info from their official website. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 if in Canada.
Who is most at risk for sweepstakes phone call scam targeting seniors?+
This scam primarily targets Seniors, Older adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Phone.
Is sweepstakes phone call scam targeting seniors on the rise?+
sweepstakes phone call scam targeting seniors is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
AI impersonation
↑ 34%AI voice clone family emergency scam
A caller sounds exactly like a family member in distress and pressures the victim to send money immediately before verifying the story.
What to do first
Hang up and call the family member back directly using a known number.
Targets
Parents
Seen in
U.S.
Smishing
↑ 27%Bank verification text phishing scam
A text message claims a suspicious bank event happened and pushes the victim to a fake login page before they stop to verify the sender.
What to do first
Do not tap the link from the text.
Targets
Mobile banking users
Seen in
Global
Identity theft
↑ 17%Medical billing identity fraud
Stolen identity details are used for medical claims or treatments, leading to fraudulent bills and corrupted records for the victim.
What to do first
Review insurance explanations of benefits regularly.
Targets
Families
Seen in
U.S.
Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.