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Prize, fee, and payment tricks

Pay a fee to unlock a prize, grant, loan, or inheritance, or send money back from a check that later bounces.

Scam types

• Advance fee and 419 scam

  An advance fee scam is a message promising you a large sum, such as an inheritance, a share of a fortune, or goods held at customs, if you first pay a fee. The fee is followed by

• Lottery, sweepstakes, and prize scam

  A lottery or sweepstakes scam is a call, letter, or message saying you have won a prize, often in a draw you never entered. To collect it you must first pay taxes, fees, or

• Fake government grant and advance-fee loan scam

  A fake grant or loan scam promises free government money or a guaranteed loan, whatever your credit history, and then asks for a processing, insurance, or application fee before

• Fake check and overpayment scam

  A fake check scam is when someone sends you a check, often for more than you are owed, and asks you to send part of the money back or on to someone else. The check looks real and

• Crypto ATM and QR code payment scam

  A crypto ATM scam is when a caller or online contact tells you to withdraw cash and feed it into a cryptocurrency ATM, often scanning a QR code they send you. They claim it will