This week’s scam alert exposes a major impersonation campaign targeting hopeful winners across the United States. These fraudulent calls claim that you have won a multimillion-dollar prize from well-known lotteries and sweepstakes. The scammers use prerecorded messages and official-sounding names to make their story believable, often dropping familiar brands such as Walmart, Walgreens, Amazon, Powerball, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the Mega Millions company.
If you use a call protection app like YouMail, many of these fraudulent calls are automatically detected and blocked before they ever reach your phone. But for those who pick up, the message sounds convincing enough to catch even cautious listeners off guard.
In the call, victims are told they are the “third place winner” of promotions like the 100 Million Golden Harvest Cash Out or Mega Millions Sweepstakes. The caller promises millions in cash, a luxury car, a new home, and even weekly lifetime payments. The recording claims the prize is being “processed and remitted at the Federal Reserve Bank,” adding a layer of false authority to the message.
How This Scam Works
The call begins with an upbeat prerecorded message that sounds official. The speaker congratulates the recipient on winning a massive prize and urges them to “press 1” or call a specific number to claim it. Once connected, scammers attempt to collect personal or banking information under the pretense of verifying identity or paying taxes and fees before releasing the prize.
This scam relies on urgency and excitement. By combining recognizable brand names and official-sounding organizations, the message feels legitimate, especially for anyone who has recently entered a sweepstakes or bought a lottery ticket.
Audio Transcript Example
“Winner in the 100 million golden harvest cash out. Hello, beneficiary. Good day. This is an official notification from the United States sweepstakes and gaming association, which is also affiliated with the mega millions company. We are pleased to officially announce you as the third place winner in the 100 million golden harvest cash out promotion. This drawing is sponsored by Walmart, Walgreens, Amazon, and the Powerball state lottery. As the third place winner, you will be awarded with a total lump sum cash prize of $5,500,000 alongside a $650,000 home of your choice with a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 plus $7,000 every week for life. Congratulations. This is a dream come true. The mega millions sweepstakes has made all the necessary arrangements in order for you to receive your prize. Your funds are currently being processed and remitted at the Federal Reserve Bank. You may call back the claim department at (888) 797-1738 or (913) 600-2503. To start your process, press 1 or to speak with a representative, press 2. Have a wonderful day.”
Where It’s Happening
Reports show that these fake contest winner scams have been most active in Texas, Ohio, Georgia, California, and North Carolina. The calls often come from rotating phone numbers to evade detection, including 1-877-460-0890, 1-888-652-4894, 1-817-704-0078, 1-737-340-4943, and 1-888-700-5704.
Why It’s Dangerous
Calls like these can lead to serious financial loss and identity theft. Victims who follow the instructions are typically asked to pay “processing” or “tax” fees upfront, or to share sensitive banking details to receive their supposed winnings. Once the scammers have your information, they disappear, and the promised prize never arrives.
How to Protect Yourself
The best way to stay safe from fake lottery and sweepstakes scams is to block the calls before they ever reach you. You can prevent scams like this with a free protection app such as YouMail, which blocks or screens dangerous calls using real-time data from billions of detected robocalls.
If you do not have a protection app and receive a call like this, do not engage. Hang up immediately and verify through legitimate state lottery or sweepstakes websites. Never share payment or personal details over the phone.
Staying informed is equally important. Scammers constantly change their tactics, so keeping up with the latest scam reports can help you recognize new schemes before they reach you.
Stay Alert with YouMail
YouMail’s community-driven data helps track active scam campaigns like these and alert users when new threats appear. The YouMail Directory lets you look up suspicious numbers, while the Robocall Index shows where scams are spreading across the country in real time. By combining these tools with YouMail’s automatic blocking features, you can stay one step ahead of fraudsters.
Key Takeaway
If a call promises you unexpected riches, luxury cars, or lifetime payments, it is almost certainly a scam. Legitimate lotteries will never call winners out of the blue or request payment to claim a prize.
Protect your phone, protect your privacy, and stay aware. Fake contest winner scams prey on excitement and hope, but with tools like YouMail, you can silence the scammers before they even get the chance.
