If you've been targeted by a sweepstakes scam — whether you lost money or not — reporting it is one of the most important things you can do. Consumer fraud reports are the raw data that law enforcement agencies use to identify scam patterns, build cases, and shut down operations.
Most people don't report. The FTC estimates that only a small fraction of fraud victims file formal complaints. Every unreported scam makes it harder to protect the next person. Here's exactly how to report a sweepstakes scam, who to report it to, and what happens after you file.
Step 1: Report to the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission is the primary federal agency for consumer fraud. Their reporting portal collects complaints that feed into the Consumer Sentinel Network — the same database used to produce state-level fraud statistics like our Sweepstakes Scam Risk Index.
How to file
Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and follow the prompts. You'll be asked to describe:
- What happened (the scam pitch, how you were contacted)
- Who contacted you (phone number, email address, company name they used)
- How you paid, if you did (wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, etc.)
- How much you lost
- Any supporting documents (screenshots, emails, letters)
The process takes about 10-15 minutes. You don't need an account.
What happens after you file
The FTC does not resolve individual complaints — they don't contact the scammer on your behalf or recover your money directly. Instead, your complaint goes into the Consumer Sentinel database, where it's accessible to thousands of law enforcement agencies nationwide.
When enough complaints cluster around a specific operation, phone number, or tactic, the FTC and state attorneys general use that data to bring enforcement actions. Major sweepstakes fraud crackdowns — including cases that have shut down operations and returned millions to victims — started with individual consumer complaints.
Step 2: Report to Your State Attorney General
Every state has an attorney general's office with a consumer protection division. State AGs have enforcement power within their jurisdiction and often pursue sweepstakes fraud cases that target their residents specifically.
How to find your state AG
The National Association of Attorneys General maintains a directory at naag.org. Most state AG offices accept complaints online, by phone, and by mail.
Why state reports matter
State-level complaint data helps attorneys general identify fraud patterns targeting their residents. Some states are more heavily targeted than others — the Scam Risk Index shows which states see the highest per-capita rates of sweepstakes fraud. State AGs in high-risk states may prioritize enforcement actions when they see complaint volume rising.
Your state complaint also creates a separate record from the FTC filing. Multiple reports through different channels increase the visibility of the scam and the likelihood of enforcement action.
Step 3: Report to the FBI (for Large Losses or International Scams)
If you've lost a significant amount of money — or if the scam appears to originate outside the U.S. — file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
How to file
Go to ic3.gov and submit a complaint. IC3 handles internet-facilitated fraud including sweepstakes scams conducted by email, social media, or websites.
When to use IC3
IC3 is most relevant when the scam involves:
- International fraud operations (common with foreign lottery scams)
- Wire transfers or cryptocurrency payments
- Large dollar losses (typically $10,000+)
- Multiple victims in an organized scheme
IC3 shares complaint data with FBI field offices and partner agencies that investigate international fraud rings.
Step 4: Report the Scam on the Platform
If the scam reached you through social media, email, or a specific website, report it on that platform too.
Social media
- Facebook: Click the three dots on the post or page, select "Report"
- Instagram: Tap the three dots on the profile or post, select "Report"
- TikTok: Long-press the video, select "Report"
- X (Twitter): Click the three dots on the tweet, select "Report post"
For more on social media scam tactics, read our guide on spotting fake sweepstakes on social media.
If you received the scam by email, forward it to spam@uce.gov (the FTC's spam reporting address) before deleting it. For phishing emails that impersonate a specific company, also forward to that company's abuse or security team.
Phone
If you received a scam call, report the phone number to the FTC's Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. This helps the FTC track and take action against illegal robocall operations.
Step 5: Contact Your Financial Institution
If you sent money to a scammer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.
- Credit card payments can sometimes be reversed through a chargeback dispute
- Wire transfers are much harder to recover, but reporting the transfer promptly gives the receiving bank a chance to freeze the funds
- Gift card payments — contact the gift card issuer (Apple, Google, Amazon, etc.) with the card numbers and explain they were used in a fraud. Recovery is rare but possible if reported quickly
- Cryptocurrency payments are generally unrecoverable, but report them anyway for the fraud record
The sooner you act, the better your chances. Some payment methods have narrow dispute windows.
What Information to Save
Before you report, gather and preserve as much evidence as possible:
- Screenshots of any messages, posts, or emails from the scammer
- Phone numbers that called you (check your call history)
- Email addresses and sender information
- Mailing addresses from any letters received
- Payment receipts — wire transfer confirmations, gift card numbers, transaction records
- Names the scammer used (even if fake, they help investigators link cases)
- URLs of any websites you were directed to
Save everything. Even details that seem minor can help investigators connect your complaint to a larger operation.
What If You Didn't Lose Money?
Report it anyway. You don't need to have lost money for your complaint to matter.
Reports from people who recognized the scam before paying are valuable because they document the scam's methods, contact information, and targeting approach. This information helps law enforcement understand how the operation works and who it's targeting — which is often more useful for building a case than the dollar amount of an individual loss.
How Reporting Connects to the Bigger Picture
Every complaint filed with the FTC becomes part of the Consumer Sentinel Network data. That data is analyzed to identify trends, target enforcement actions, and produce public reports about fraud patterns.
Our Sweepstakes Scam Risk Index is built directly from this data — ranking states by fraud risk based on complaint volume, per-capita rates, and dollar losses. The more people report, the more accurate and useful this data becomes for everyone.
Reporting also helps legitimate sweepstakes by making it harder for scammers to operate. Every fraud operation that gets shut down is one less fake promotion confusing consumers and undermining trust in real giveaways.
How to Avoid Needing to Report in the First Place
The best outcome is never encountering a sweepstakes scam at all. A few habits dramatically reduce your risk:
- Find sweepstakes proactively rather than responding to unsolicited notifications. Use verified sources that screen listings before publishing — browse verified sweepstakes that have been checked for official rules, sponsor identity, and free entry.
- Know the warning signs. If you're asked to pay anything to enter or claim a prize, it's a scam. Read the full list of sweepstakes scam warning signs.
- Verify before you enter. Check that the sponsor is a real company and that official rules are published and accessible. Learn how we verify sweepstakes listings to understand what a legitimate promotion looks like.
- Be skeptical of social media giveaways from accounts you don't recognize. Learn how to enter sweepstakes on social media safely.