One click or comment can cost you dearly
In short: a contest or lottery you did not enter yourself, which asks you for money, personal details or a comment (for example, your birth month), is almost always a scam. A fair contest never asks you to pay to receive the prize. Do not comment, do not click the link, report the post and move on.
Table of Contents
The danger
Promises of free prizes such as cars, houses or other valuable goods are a common strategy scammers use to exploit people’s wish to win something valuable without effort. Examples like “Win a Dacia car” or “Free house for Christmas” are designed to grab attention and manipulate victims into revealing personal information or paying money, disguised as fees or entry conditions.
On Facebook, fake lotteries come in other forms too, all with the same goal: to deceive users. Some promise big prizes, claiming to be run by famous brands or celebrities, but ask users to pay hidden fees or hand over sensitive personal information. Others lure people with a “special offer” of fantastic prizes, but only if users share the post or enter their bank details on fake websites. There are also lotteries that promise refunds for taking part in earlier events, but only if dubious conditions are met. In some cases, users are asked to pay to enter the contest or to “unlock” the prize, which does not exist. And there are “exclusive” lotteries promoted through private Facebook groups, where only accepted members will supposedly win, while the real goal is to pull people into groups the scammers control.
Each of these traps is designed to collect personal information or money from participants, so be careful whenever you come across such offers on social media.
How did fake lotteries and contests appear and evolve?
Scams built on fake lotteries and contests are not a modern invention. Throughout history, criminals have exploited people’s wish for quick wins, adapting their methods to the technology of each era.
The origins of the scams
The first “lottery” scams appeared together with legal lotteries, which became popular in Europe and the United States.
A concrete example
The Louisiana Lottery was officially established in 1868, after the Civil War, to raise money for the economically devastated state of Louisiana. The company running it obtained a 25-year monopoly through a controversial deal with the local government.
Although it looked legitimate at first, the lottery quickly became a corrupt and fraudulent operation.
How did the fraud work?
Aggressive advertising: the lottery was promoted nationwide in newspapers and through letters sent by mail, promising big wins and apparently equal chances for everyone.
Ticket sales: tickets were sold across the country, although the lottery was based in Louisiana, through distribution agencies that collected money from thousands of people.
Rigged results: the drawings were manipulated so that big prizes were not paid out. If someone outside the scheme won a large prize, they often did not receive the money or were pressured to accept a much smaller sum.
Stolen money: most of the ticket money was kept by the organizers, and only a small part went to the advertised prizes or to the state.
Why did it become famous?
The Louisiana Lottery became known nationwide because of the massive corruption behind it. The organizers bribed politicians, judges and local officials to keep the scheme running. Rumors of fraud spread quickly, and the public began to lose trust.
The end of the scheme
In 1890, the US Congress passed a law banning the use of the mail to promote lotteries and sell tickets. This hit the Louisiana Lottery directly, limiting its national reach. In 1893, Louisiana banned the lottery, and the company moved to Honduras, where it operated until 1895.
The 19th century: scams by mail
As postal systems developed, scammers began sending letters announcing that people had won an “international lottery”.
- They asked for “processing” or “delivery” fees.
- The letters came with exotic stamps or fake letterheads imitating well known organizations, to look genuine.
These scams were especially popular in isolated communities, where people had little access to information about fraud.
The 20th century: phone and fax scams
In the second half of the 20th century, scammers started using new technologies such as the telephone and the fax.
- Victims received calls telling them they had won lotteries or contests run by large companies.
- They were pressured to give bank details or pay fees to claim the prize.
- Faxes contained fake official notices, often with logos of well known companies, which made them more convincing.
The digital era: email and online scams (from the 1990s to today)
With the spread of the internet, the scams evolved considerably:
- Email became the main fraud channel. Victims received fake notifications imitating famous companies or international organizations, such as the “Microsoft Lottery” or the “UN Lottery”.
- Fake websites were created to imitate legitimate platforms and collect personal or financial information.
- Spam let scammers reach millions of people within minutes, greatly increasing the number of victims.
Social media and mobile apps (today)
In recent years, these scams have become everywhere on social networks and in mobile apps:
- Scammers create fake pages on platforms like Facebook or Instagram and run contests with fictional prizes to attract users.
- Direct messages (DMs) and sponsored ads are used to promote the fake contests.
- In messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, links to fictional contests are shared, often with messages asking you to forward them to other contacts.
Complex scams powered by artificial intelligence
Today, advanced technology is used to make fraud ever more convincing:
- Scammers use chatbots to talk to victims automatically and answer their questions.
- Fake messages are generated with AI, perfectly written and adapted to avoid anti-fraud filters.
- Deepfakes are used to fake videos or messages from public figures promoting fictional contests.
When a ticket costs too much: lessons from Caritas
“Would you risk all your savings for the promise of a huge win?” This unspoken question was at the heart of one of the biggest financial frauds in Romania’s history. The Caritas case was not only a lesson about financial danger, but also about the power of mass hysteria. Today, the same psychological mechanisms that drew millions of people to ruin can be found in the unrealistic promises of fake online lotteries and contests.
The story of Caritas
In the early 1990s, a company called Caritas promised Romanians a fabulous return on their money: 800% within a few months. Its founder, Ioan Stoica, a former accountant, quickly became a symbol of hope in a troubled economic period.
The system was simple: people deposited money and, within a short time, received spectacularly more. Millions of Romanians were caught up in this dream, and Caritas became a national phenomenon. Yet Caritas was nothing more than a pyramid scheme, where the first payouts were funded by newcomers’ deposits.
When the scheme collapsed in 1994, about 4 million people, according to the most widely used estimates, lost their savings, and estimates of the losses range from 1 to 5 billion dollars depending on the source.
Parallels with fake lotteries and contests
Although Caritas was a pyramid scheme and not a classic lottery, its story perfectly illustrates the psychological mechanisms that draw people to impossible financial promises. Lotteries play on the same emotions:
The hope of a quick, easy win.
The fear of missing an opportunity.
The herd effect: “If everyone is playing, why shouldn’t I?”
Lottery advertising uses seductive messages, promising the chance to change your life with a single ticket. Yet the real chances of winning are often tiny, and the emotional stakes clash with reason.
Risks and manipulation
The Caritas case reminds us that unrealistic promises can have devastating consequences, and that lotteries can become a psychological trap for vulnerable people:
Emotional manipulation: advertising uses images of success, happy families and dreams come true to trigger the wish to take part.
The herd effect: “If millions of people buy tickets, it must be a good idea.” This effect was central to Caritas as well.
Social impact: people who lose money often feel ashamed and avoid talking about it, which keeps the cycle going.
Caritas shows what can happen when emotions and promises of quick riches replace reason. That is why we should always ask: “Another illusion, or a real opportunity?”
How fake lotteries and contests work
Asking for a small detail in the comments, such as your date or month of birth, makes taking part feel easy and risk free. But with a simple reply you are not only answering the scammer, you are making their job easier: you confirm that you have a valid social media account and that you are willing to take part in the “contest”. Such a comment exposes you to:
Collection of personal data
Commenting your birth month may seem harmless, but it can be combined with other information (your name or other public details on your profile) to build a profile of you. This data can be used for:
- Identity theft: scammers may use it to try to get into your online accounts, especially if you use common security questions such as “What is your birth month?”.
- Personalized phishing: the more they know about you, the more convincing the messages they can write to trick you into giving more information or clicking dangerous links.
More visibility for the fraudulent post
By commenting on or sharing such posts, you indirectly help scammers reach more victims. Social media algorithms promote posts with many interactions (comments, likes, shares), so more people will see the fake post and could fall for it.
The risk of being sent to dangerous links
After you comment, scammers may contact you by direct message or send you to fake websites where you are asked for sensitive information, a “processing fee” or to download malicious software.
Your account can be compromised
Commenting can draw scammers to your profile, and if it is public, they can collect more information about you. Users who interact with such posts are also targeted by hacking and account takeover attempts.
The scam looks legitimate
When you comment, other people who see the post may think it is genuine. You help create false legitimacy, which encourages even more people to interact. That is exactly what scammers want, to widen the net their victims fall into.
After you reply in the comments, the private approach follows: the scammer messages you to win your trust. At this stage you receive instructions that involve either paying “processing” or “delivery” fees, or handing over sensitive personal information such as your address, phone number or bank details. This is when the fraud becomes obvious, but unfortunately many people fall for it because they want the promised prize.
How does weak moderation and content checking on Facebook help fake lotteries spread?
The lack of proper moderation and strict content checks on Facebook creates an ideal environment for scammers promoting fake lotteries and contests. This is how it helps these practices spread:
Publishing freely, without strict filters
Facebook lets users create and promote content quickly, without detailed checks. This gives scammers:
- The ability to create fake pages in minutes, without any proof of authenticity.
- Room for dubious ads that are hard to tell apart from legitimate ones, especially for inexperienced users.
Automatic moderation that misses a lot
Although Facebook uses algorithms to detect deceptive content, many posts get past the filters because:
- Scammers use creative techniques, such as deliberate misspellings (“l0ttery” instead of “lottery”), to avoid automatic detection.
- The platform does not proactively check every report about such posts.
Recommendation algorithms amplify the problem
Posts with many interactions (comments, likes, shares) are promoted by the algorithms, whether they are deceptive or not. Fake lotteries benefit from:
- Interactions from trusting users who comment on or share the posts believing they will win.
- The snowball effect, where a post quickly goes viral and reaches a wider audience.
Paid ads that are not properly checked
Scammers pay for ads to promote their fake lotteries. Facebook does not always ask for concrete proof that the promoted offers are legitimate, which:
- lets ads for non-existent contests appear;
- creates a false sense of trust, because users tend to believe a paid ad has been checked.
Slow handling of reports from alert users
Facebook lets you report fake content, but the process has several problems:
- Slow reaction time: scammers profit from their posts until they are removed.
- Lack of transparency: users do not always get clear details about what was done after a report.
Networks of fake accounts (bots)
- Scammers use fake accounts to artificially boost the credibility of their posts with likes and positive comments.
- Fake accounts are also used to reshare the posts, increasing their visibility and reach.
What's new in 2026
In 2026, scammers no longer stop at a post with prizes: they use fake Instagram accounts, cloned websites and even fake apps. Three recent examples from verifiable sources:
The Romanian National Lottery, imitated through fake apps and sites (April 2026)
On 2 April 2026, DNSC, Romania’s National Cyber Security Directorate, warned about fraud using the image of the Romanian National Lottery (Loteria Română). Through fake Instagram accounts and cloned sites with slightly changed addresses, scammers spread links promising bonuses or winnings. The link leads to a page imitating Google Play, where you download a fake app with the lottery’s logo. The app sends you to a platform imitating an online casino and asks you to deposit money to “activate” offers. The money cannot be withdrawn, and the app may contain programs that steal your passwords and bank details.
DNSC recommends downloading apps only from official stores, never depositing money to “activate” a bonus, and reporting the attempt (in Romania, at 1911 or on pnrisc.dnsc.ro).
“Exclusive” Easter contests (April 2026)
On 10 April 2026, DNSC warned about social media contests that promise exclusive prizes and ask for personal or card details, about contests shared en masse with suspicious wording, and about sites imitating brands with altered addresses. The advice: check the source of the offer, look at the website address and never send personal or bank details.
The 2026 World Cup as bait (May 2026)
On 28 May 2026, Bitdefender Labs identified more than 55 malicious ad campaigns on Meta platforms using the 2026 FIFA World Cup as bait: fake shops, phishing pages for payment details and fake ticket and merchandise offers. The pattern is always the same: a popular event, an offer that is too good, and an address that is not the official one.
What stays the same in 2026: the promise of a win without effort, the rush, and the request for money or data before the “prize”.
How to recognize a fake lottery or contest
Fraud involving fake lotteries and contests is becoming more sophisticated, but there are some clear signs that help you spot it.
Ads shown by fake Facebook pages
Scammers often use fake pages to promote ads that look attractive but hide fraudulent intentions. Here is how to spot them:
Check the “About” and “Page Transparency” sections
- Recently created pages: a fake page is usually new. In “Page Transparency” you can see when it was created. If the page is only a few days or weeks old, that is a warning sign.
- Frequent name changes: if the page has changed its name several times, it is trying to hide its original purpose (tap “See all” to see the name history).
Unjustified payment requests
A major sign of a fake contest is a request for money before you receive the prize. This can include:
- Administrative fees: fraudulent organizers may claim you must pay a fee to process the win.
- Delivery charges: you may be asked to pay shipping for the prize, especially if it is a physical item.
- Taxes or government fees: scammers sometimes claim you must pay taxes before receiving the win, which is not true for legitimate contests.
No clear rules
Legitimate contests always have clear, easily accessible rules that explain:
- who can take part (for example age or residence limits);
- how winners are selected;
- how to claim the prize.
If a contest has no such rules or is vague, that is a warning sign. Rules written in a poor translation or with grammar mistakes are also a sign it may be fake.
Messages that pressure you
Fraud relies on urgency so that victims act quickly, without thinking. Messages may contain phrases such as:
- “You must claim your prize within the next 24 hours!”
- “If you do not act now, your prize will go to someone else.”
This language is used deliberately to stop victims from checking whether the contest is legitimate.
No legitimate company or organization behind it
Another sign of a fake contest is that the organizer:
- is not a known company;
- has no verifiable online presence (official website, social media profile and so on);
- uses a generic email address such as “gmail.com” or “yahoo.com” instead of an official company domain.
For example, an address like “winnings@contests-prizes1234.com” is a clear sign of a scam.
Suspicious links
In many cases, the fraud sends victims to websites that look official but have unusual addresses, such as:
- strange or long domains, like “www.free-prizes.net”;
- domains imitating known companies, like “www.company-prizes123.com”.
These sites are used to collect personal or financial information. Always check the address before opening a link from a message or email. Read more in our phishing guide.
Unrealistic language and exaggerated promises
Fake contests are often promoted with grand claims designed to grab attention, for example:
- “You are the winner of our €1,000,000 grand prize!”
- “Every participant is guaranteed to win!”
Legitimate contests do not promise guaranteed wins for everyone and do not offer disproportionately large prizes without a clear reason.
Requests for sensitive personal information
Another sign of a fake lottery is a request for personal information that a real contest does not need, for example:
- your credit card number or bank account;
- your national identification number;
- detailed identity documents (for example copies of your ID card).
Legitimate contests never ask for this information to claim a prize.
The risks and harm of taking part in fake lotteries and contests
Taking part in fake lotteries and contests can have serious consequences for your personal, financial and digital security. These risks affect not only you as the direct victim, but also the people in your network of contacts (once scammers take over your account, they spread the scam to all your friends).
Personal data leaks
One of the main goals of fake lotteries is to collect personal data.
- Stolen data can include name, address, phone number, identification number or financial details. This information is used for identity theft, creating fake accounts in the victim’s name, and unauthorized access to bank or social media accounts.
For example, once scammers have your email address, they may send further messages containing phishing or malware.
Financial danger
Taking part in fraudulent contests can lead to financial loss.
- Victims are often pushed to pay prize processing fees, delivery charges or “guarantees” that are never returned.
Once the payments are made, the money is lost for good and the organizers can no longer be reached. In other cases, the bank details provided are used for unauthorized transactions.
Impact on cybersecurity
Fake contests are often an entry point for cyber attacks.
- Clicking suspicious links can install malware on users’ devices, such as keyloggers that capture passwords and sensitive information, or spyware that monitors online activity.
- Account theft: if a user gives their login details (email and password), scammers can take over personal accounts, including social media and bank accounts.
Damage to reputation
In some cases, participants unintentionally become accomplices:
- by sharing fake contests with friends or family;
- by posting about “prizes” received, which can mislead other people.
This not only harms their personal reputation but also helps the fraud spread.
Emotional stress
Victims of fake contests can experience anxiety and stress caused by significant financial losses, the shame of having been fooled, and the fear of being targeted by other scams in the future.
How to protect yourself from fake lotteries and contests
Protecting yourself from fake lotteries and contests starts with constant vigilance, ongoing learning about the methods scammers use, and asking for help when in doubt. Be wary of offers that are “too good to be true”, keep yourself informed, and talk to experts or people you trust to avoid the traps.
Check that the organizer is legitimate
- Look for official information: before taking part, check whether the organizer is a legitimate company or organization. Go to their official website and look for details about the contest.
- Avoid suspicious pages: scammers create pages or websites imitating known organizations. Make sure the address is the official one and has no subtle errors, such as swapped letters (“g00gle” instead of “google”).
Pay attention to the entry requirements
- Do not give sensitive information: a genuine contest will never ask for your identification number, passwords, bank account details or copies of your ID documents.
- Avoid “processing” fees: if you are asked to pay money to claim a prize, it is almost certainly a scam.
Analyze the messages you receive
- Look for signs of fraud: grammar mistakes, exaggerated promises or urgency (“Claim your prize now!”) are clear signs.
- Check the sender: email addresses or phone numbers that do not belong to the official organizer are a warning sign.
Protect your devices and data
- Do not open suspicious links in unexpected emails or messages: they can download malware to your device.
- Use security software: install an antivirus on all your devices and keep it up to date.
Stay informed and inform others
- Keep up with fraud methods: read about the latest scams so you learn to recognize them.
- Warn friends and family: if you discover a fake lottery, tell the people close to you.
Verify prizes before claiming them
- Contact the organizer directly through an official channel (email or phone number from their official website).
- Do not let urgency pressure you: scammers use fake deadlines. Take the time you need.
Report fraud
- Tell the authorities: if you think you were targeted, report it to the police or to the consumer protection authority (in Romania, ANPC).
- Report it to the platform: if you find a fake contest on social media, use the platform’s report function to get the page taken down.
What to do if you were scammed
Stop all contact with the scammers
- Do not reply to further messages: once you realize you were deceived, stop communicating. Continuing gives them more chances to exploit you.
- Block suspicious contacts: block the phone numbers, email addresses and social media accounts the scammers used.
Change passwords and secure your accounts
- Update your passwords: if you shared personal information or account access, change your passwords immediately, using unique, complex passwords. See also how to protect your social media accounts.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for your important accounts (email, social media, banking).
Tell your bank or payment provider
- Stop payments: if you paid the scammers, contact your bank or payment provider (PayPal, Revolut and others) to cancel the transaction or open a dispute.
- Stop recurring payments: simply interacting with the page can activate a paid recurring service without you knowing. The fee is added directly to your monthly phone bill, hidden under generic names like “Premium services” or “Digital subscriptions”. Cancel them immediately!
- Monitor your accounts: check your bank transactions and report any suspicious activity right away.
Report the fraud to the authorities
- Contact the police: file a complaint and provide every detail (messages, emails, links, the scammers’ contact details).
- Tell the consumer protection authorities: in Romania, you can report it to ANPC or to other organizations that fight fraud.
- Tell your national cybersecurity authority: in Romania, DNSC, at 1911, alerts@dnsc.ro or on pnrisc.dnsc.ro, where you can also report fake posts.
- Use online reporting platforms: some countries have dedicated sites for reporting scams, such as the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in the United States.
Tell the platforms and your community
- Report the page or account on the social media platform where you were deceived.
- Warn the people close to you, especially if they may have been contacted too.
Stay alert in the future
- Learn about fraud: read online safety guides and take part in awareness campaigns.
- Monitor your credit: if you shared personal information, consider monitoring your credit to detect further fraud.
Seek emotional support if you need it
- Talk to someone: being scammed is stressful. Talk to someone you trust or to a counselor.
- Join support groups: there are online communities where fraud victims share their experiences and support each other.
Frequently asked questions
Can a real contest ask me for money to receive the prize?
A fair contest never asks you to pay to receive the prize. If you are asked for a processing, delivery or “unlock” fee, it is almost certainly a scam.
Why is it risky to comment my birth month or “enter” a post with prizes?
The comment confirms that you have an active account and helps the post reach more people. The scammer can then contact you privately, and your birth date helps them write more convincing messages.
How do I check whether a page giving away prizes is fake?
Open the “About” and “Page Transparency” sections: a new page, created a few days or weeks ago, or one that has changed its name often, is a warning sign. Look for the contest rules and the organizing company’s details too.
What should I do if I already gave my data or money?
Stop all contact, call your bank, change your passwords, keep the evidence and report it to your national cybersecurity authority (in Romania, DNSC at 1911 or pnrisc.dnsc.ro). File a police complaint if you lost money.
Conclusion
Fake lotteries and contests rely on rush and on the wish for a quick win. If you take your time, check the organizer and never pay to receive a prize, you can recognize them. Knowledge and action are your best allies against scammers!
Sources
- FBI: Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Facebook: Help Center
- Wikipedia: Caritas (Ponzi scheme)
- LSU Libraries: The Louisiana Lottery, 1868-1895
About the author
Brîndușa Maria, Senior Software Test Analyst, ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Analyst (CTAL-TA). I write about how to recognize online scams. LinkedIn
Note: this article is based on my research and professional experience. I used artificial intelligence tools for drafting and editing.
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