How to spot a fake giveaway

Gift card giveaways are one of the most popular ways scammers go after people online. Some offers are real promotions run by legitimate sponsors; many are not. Fake giveaways tend to make the same mistakes, and once you know them you can sort real from fake in under a minute.

The 7 red flags of a fake giveaway

1. You have to pay to claim. A "processing fee," "shipping charge," "tax deposit" or a request to buy a gift card and send the code is the clearest sign of a scam. In the US, a sweepstakes that requires payment is effectively an illegal lottery, which is why real ones say no purchase necessary.
2. You "won" something you never entered. You can't win a drawing you didn't enter. Unexpected winner texts, emails and calls are almost always phishing.
3. The message comes from a lookalike account. Scammers copy a brand's or creator's profile photo and add an extra letter or underscore to the handle. Check the handle, the account's age and its post history. Real sponsors notify winners the way their rules describe, not through a surprise DM with a link.
4. There are no official rules. A real sweepstakes names the sponsor, lists eligibility (for example US residents, 18+), gives start and end dates, describes the prize and explains how winners are picked. If you can't find rules, skip it.
5. It asks for sensitive data up front. No entry form needs your bank login, card PIN, one-time passcode or Social Security number. A name, an email and maybe a ZIP code or phone number are normal.
6. It pressures you. "Claim within 10 minutes or lose it" is designed to stop you from thinking. Legit winner notices do have deadlines, but they're measured in days and are spelled out in the rules.
7. "Everyone wins." A sweepstakes picks winners at random from the entries. If every visitor is told they've already won, it's a marketing funnel or a scam, not a drawing.

What a real giveaway looks like

• Entry is free, and buying something doesn't improve your odds.
• A named sponsor with contact details is in the official rules.
• There's a clear end date and a stated number of prizes.
• The form asks for ordinary contact details, and the privacy policy explains how they're used. Expect some marketing emails; you can unsubscribe.
• The terms say exactly what's required. Some "reward" promotions ask you to complete partner offers to qualify. That isn't a scam by itself, but read the terms so you know what you're signing up for.

Here's how that checklist applies to the gift card sweepstakes we list right now. Each page explains who the sponsor is and where the rules live: Walmart gift card sweepstakes, PayPal gift card sweepstakes and Cash App gift card sweepstakes. None of them is run by those brands.

We may earn a commission. Not affiliated with Walmart. No purchase necessary.

Already clicked? What to do next

If you only entered an email address, unsubscribe from anything you don't recognize and mark the rest as spam. If you shared a password, change it and turn on two-factor authentication. If you gave out card or bank details, call your bank and ask them to block the card and watch for unusual charges. Then report it to the platform and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A 30-second habit that keeps you safe

Before you enter anything, ask three questions: Who is the sponsor? Where are the official rules? Is it free? If you can answer all three in 30 seconds, you're probably looking at a real promotion. If you can't, close the tab. A separate email address just for sweepstakes keeps marketing mail and phishing away from your main inbox.

Remember that even a legitimate giveaway is a game of chance. Winners are picked at random under each sponsor's rules, so treat entering as a free, low-effort hobby rather than a source of income.

We may earn a commission. Not affiliated with Cash App. No purchase necessary.

FAQ

See all of this week's free gift card giveaways →