Scam Alert: Seniors Targeted by Fake Prize Promises

Seniors are often the prime targets of financial scams, and a new warning is urging Century Village East residents to stay alert for one of the most deceptive schemes: fake prize offers.

Scammers are reaching out by mail, phone, text message, email, or social media to claim you have won a huge cash prize — sometimes even claiming to represent trusted names like Publishers Clearing House. But there’s always a catch. Before you can collect your so-called winnings, they ask you to pay a fee for taxes, reporting, or handling. Unfortunately, if you pay, you lose your money and quickly find out that the prize never existed in the first place.

Residents are reminded that real sweepstakes and legitimate prize contests never require winners to pay money upfront to collect their winnings. If someone contacts you claiming you’ve won a prize but demands a fee first, it’s a scam. It is important to slow down before responding and ask yourself a few key questions. First, check online to see what others are saying about the contest or company. Typing the name along with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint” can often reveal if others have been targeted.

Another good idea is to look carefully at any mailed offers. If the envelope or postcard was sent using a bulk mail rate, it likely means many others received the same offer. True prize notifications are typically sent individually, not in mass mailings. Finally, if you are ever asked to pay money or provide sensitive personal information like your Social Security number or bank account details in order to claim a prize, you can be sure it’s a scam. Real companies do not ask for payment by wiring money, using payment apps like CashApp or Zelle, sending gift cards, or transferring cryptocurrency to release winnings.

Scammers often rely on urgency and confusion to trick people into sending money quickly before they have time to think it through. Taking a moment to verify any unexpected prize claim can protect you from serious financial loss.

Residents are encouraged to share this information with friends and family members to help protect others in the community. If you believe you have been targeted by a prize scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Staying informed is the best way to stay protected — and remember, if you have to pay to claim a prize, it’s no prize at all.