Every day thousands of people open their mail or turn on their computer to find that they have won something exciting in a prize draw or sweepstake – without even having entered.
To claim the win you are asked to send an 'administration fee', but once you have sent your money you are likely to hear nothing more. Or you might be told to ring a premium rate 090 number to claim your prize. Of course, the longer you stay on the line, the more money the scammer earns.
Often, but not always, the small print will tell you that you are only being offered the chance to enter a prize draw or sweepstake. The chance of you actually winning something will be zero or very small. Usually you get nothing in return. If you do receive something, it will be something worth very little.