A charity says you won a prize. Real prizes are free.
By the Securify teamPublished Nov 1, 2026. 2 min read.
The safe move
Don’t pay and don’t share your Social Security number. Hang up. Then look up the charity yourself and contact it through its own website, scrolling past the paid ads in search results.
Incoming callHelping Hands Children’s Fund4
Hi, this is Dana with the Helping Hands Children’s Fund. Thank you for your donation last spring!3 You were entered in our donor sweepstakes, and you won $25,000. To release your prize, we just need a $199 processing fee1 and your Social Security number2 for the tax forms.
What gives it away
1
A fee to get a prize
The FTC says real prizes are free. Being asked to pay to collect one is the clearest sign of a scam.
2
Asks for your SSN
The FTC says only scammers ask for personal information like your Social Security number to give you a prize.
3
Uses your giving to build trust
Scammers use real charity names, or names that sound like them, so the call feels connected to a cause you care about.
4
Caller ID can lie
The FTC says caller ID can be faked, even when it shows a real organization’s name or number.
Pretends to be
A charity you have donated to
Arrives by
Phone call
After
A fee and your Social Security number
Main source
Federal Trade Commission, Oct 26, 2026
What’s going on
On October 26, 2026, the FTC warned that scammers pose as well-known charities, or names that sound like them, and say you won a sweepstakes because you donated. The giveaway is the ask. The FTC says real prizes are free, and only scammers make you pay or give your Social Security number to collect. Caller ID can be faked too, even when it shows a real name or number.
If you already paid or shared
If you paid by card, call the number on the back of your card and ask about disputing the charge.
If you gave your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov for steps to protect yourself.
Expect more prize calls. Hang up on them and don’t pay again.
Report the call to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Safe move: Hang up on recorded sales calls. To shop for a plan, start at HealthCare.gov, typed in yourself, or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.
Safe move: Hang up. The FTC says it won't call to cut off your phone or ask you for money. Don't call any number the caller tells you to look up. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
