Spotting a fake car giveaway: five checks before you enter

Fake car giveaways copy the look of real charity draws. They use a car photo, a charity name and a countdown timer, then ask for money or personal details. Five checks will help you tell a genuine draw from a scam before you enter. None of them proves a giveaway is safe on its own, so use all five.

1. Find the official rules and the operator

A genuine giveaway names the company that runs it, publishes full rules, and says who the sponsor and beneficiary are. Dream Giveaway, for example, names FN Funding, Inc., doing business as Dream Giveaway, and the charity New Beginning Children’s Homes, Inc. If you cannot find a named operator or a rules page, stop there.

2. Verify any licence or registration number

Some charity raffles state a government licence or registration. The Mile High Raffle cites Colorado Bingo-Raffles licence 2026-20817 from the Colorado Secretary of State. The RMHC San Diego raffle cites California Attorney General registration R-4009. Check the number with the regulator yourself, using the regulator’s own website, not a link from the giveaway page. A fake giveaway may quote a number that does not exist.

3. Read the odds statement

Real giveaways explain their odds. Some state a formula, such as 1 divided by the tickets issued. Others give a ticket cap, so you know the largest possible number of entries. A giveaway that promises a guaranteed win, or gives no odds and no ticket limit at all, deserves caution. Note that a lack of numeric odds is not always a fake, but it is a reason to read more closely.

4. Check the free entry route and the no purchase line

Sweepstakes in the US generally must offer a free way to enter, and the rules should say so. Look for a statement that no purchase is necessary, and a clear free method. Be wary of messages that suggest buying something will improve your chances. The FTC took action against Publishers Clearing House in June 2023 over claims of that kind, and PCH agreed to pay $18.5 million. Read our review of PCH for the details.

5. Never pay to claim a prize

A genuine sponsor does not ask you to pay a fee, a shipping charge or a tax deposit before you receive a prize. Requests for payment through gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency are a strong warning sign. If a prize requires you to pay before you can claim it, treat the offer as a scam.

If something looks wrong

Stop, do not send money or personal details, and report the offer to the Federal Trade Commission. You can also check our sweepstakes reviews for independent notes on the brands we cover.