Prizes Should Never Come with a Price, BBB Warns

Better Business Bureau reminds consumers of the risk of sending money using prepaid debit cards to claim prize winnings.

BBB has received several reports from consumers who have used prepaid money cards to send thousands of dollars to scam artists claiming the consumers won a new car, millions of dollars or a new home. 

The scam artists will often call from an overseas area code claiming a consumer has won a lottery. However, in order for the consumer to claim his or her prize, the scammer requests the consumer send money using a prepaid card to pay for taxes, processing fees and more. In reality, the consumer has won nothing. 

"Those who request you send money for a prize are generally not trustworthy individuals," said Gary Almond, president of BBB serving northeast California. "It's important to never send money to win anything."

Similar to wire transfer, money sent using a prepaid card is generally irreversible. 

BBB offers the following tips to those receiving sweepstakes and lottery notifications:

• If you did not enter to win, you most likely did not win.
• Never send payment to anyone as a requirment to win a prize.
• Never give access to a prepaid money card to anyon you do not know. 
• If you have questions about a sweepstakes or lottery notifcation, contact BBB at necal.bbb.org or by calling 916-443-6843. 

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