Legitimate sweepstakes never ask you to pay a fee, tax, or shipping charge upfront to claim a prize, and that single rule filters out most scams.

Real contests publish official rules naming the sponsor, eligibility, entry period, prize details, and how winners are selected and notified.

Verify a contest by checking the sponsor's official website and social accounts, rather than trusting a forwarded post or a lookalike page.

Be wary of urgent messages claiming you have won a contest you never entered, especially if they pressure you to act within hours.

If a message looks suspicious, do not click links or share personal details; report it and verify through the sponsor directly.