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Lottery, Prize and Inheritance Scams

By DataJive Editorial Team · Updated Oct 4, 2026 · 1 min read
Lottery, Prize and Inheritance Scams

These scams promise money but ask you to pay fees first.

How they work

A message says you have won or inherited a large sum, and you must pay taxes or fees to release it. The money never arrives.

Red flags

  • You did not enter anything.
  • Pressure to keep it secret.
  • Requests for fees or personal details.
  • Poor grammar and free email addresses.

Action

Delete the message and do not reply. Report it as spam.

Key takeaway: If you have to pay to receive a prize, it is a scam.

DJ
DataJive Editorial Team
We research and test security and privacy tools, and explain them in plain language. Content is for information only.

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