Calls that pair a charity you know with a prize you did not win
Federal Trade CommissionNationwide
On October 26, 2026, the FTC described impostors who use the names of well-known charities, or names that only sound like them, and tell people they have won a charity sweepstakes. The contact may be a phone call or an ad on social media or in search results.
A genuine prize does not come with a bill. The FTC says it is illegal to require a payment or a purchase to enter a sweepstakes or to improve the odds, and that a demand for money or a Social Security number before you can collect is the mark of a scam.
Red flags
- A caller says a charity you support is holding a prize, then asks you to pay or share personal information to receive it.
- The group uses a real charity's name, or a name that is only slightly different.
- Caller ID shows a government office, a charity, or a familiar company. The FTC notes that caller ID can be faked.
- A paid search ad sits above the real organization. The FTC says impostors sometimes buy ads so the first result is misleading.
How to protect yourself
- Treat any request to pay for a prize as a scam. Legitimate sweepstakes are free and decided by chance.
- Search the contest or company name with words such as complaint, review, or scam, and scroll past sponsored results.
- Do not trust caller ID on its own.
- If you want to donate, go to the charity through a website or phone number you already know, not a link from an unexpected call or ad.
If you are hit
- Stop paying and stop sharing personal information with the caller.
- Report the contact at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- If you already sent money, contact the company you used and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. The FTC explains payment-by-payment steps at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed
Questions
Is Calls that pair a charity you know with a prize you did not win a scam?
On October 26, 2026, the FTC described impostors who use the names of well-known charities, or names that only sound like them, and tell people they have won a charity sweepstakes. The contact may be a phone call or an ad on social media or in search results. This page summarizes a public warning from Federal Trade Commission dated October 26, 2026. The linked source is the record.
What should I do if I fell for it?
Stop paying and stop sharing personal information with the caller. Report the contact at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you already sent money, contact the company you used and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. The FTC explains payment-by-payment steps at https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed.
Sources
- Spot scammers impersonating well-known charities and sweepstakesFTC Consumer Advice
This summary is informational and not legal advice. If it and the linked source disagree, follow the source.
Related alerts
- Callers pretending the FTC will shut off your phone numberOctober 22, 2026
- Calls from fake officers demanding payment to clear a crimeSeptember 17, 2026
- Jury-duty calls, texts, and emails that threaten arrestJune 11, 2026
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