The Facebook lottery refers to fake posts and advertisements claiming Facebook is giving away large sums of money through lotteries and prize draws. These posts often promise that Facebook is distributing millions of dollars to celebrate an anniversary or as a way to give back to users. While they may look official with Facebook branding, the Facebook lottery is not real.
What is the Facebook lottery scam?
The Facebook lottery scam is a common hoax where scammers create fake ads or posts promoting a non-existent lottery run by Facebook. The ads claim Facebook is giving away cash prizes or expensive items like cars and boats through a lucky draw. To enter, users are prompted to like, share, and comment on the post or provide personal information.
Here are some common examples of Facebook lottery scams:
- A post stating “Facebook is giving away $1 million to 500 random users! Like, share, and comment ‘Enter’ for your chance to win!”
- An ad promising “Win a free iPhone 12 by clicking this link! Facebook is giving away 1000 new phones to celebrate its anniversary!”
- A sponsored story claiming “Congratulations Jessica! You won $50,000 in the Facebook lottery!” often using the target’s actual profile picture.
These posts are designed to get lots of engagement and spread quickly through shares. The more a user interacts, the more likely their friends will see it too. Once scammers get users to click suspicious links or provide personal information, they can install malware, steal identities, or collect data for other scams.
Does Facebook really do lotteries?
No, Facebook does not administer any contests, sweepstakes, or lottery draws. The company has repeatedly warned users that all lottery promotions associated with Facebook are fake.
Facebook does run occasional contests and giveaways, but only through its official channels. These are clearly promoted on Facebook’s official pages or through verified celebrity and influencer partners.
Facebook would never ask for bank account details, login information, or full names/addresses as part of a giveaway. Be very wary of any promotion that requests this info or asks you to share and tag friends to enter.
Who is behind the Facebook lottery scams?
The Facebook lottery scams are created by individual scammers and organized cybercrime rings looking to exploit Facebook users. By piggybacking on Facebook’s brand recognition, they can quickly scale hoax promotions to reach millions of people.
Common creators of Facebook lottery scams include:
- Individual scammers – A person tries to trick their own network of friends for financial gain.
- Clickbait farms – Teams that mass produce viral posts and ads to generate clicks and traffic.
- Hacking groups – Cybercriminals who distribute malware and steal user data.
- Foreign lottery fronts – Companies that disguise illegal lottery operations as online promotions.
In most cases, the scammers create disposable accounts or hacked profiles. They often steal profile pictures and discharge posts to many groups/pages at once. This makes them hard to track down.
Warning signs of a Facebook lottery scam
Watch out for these common characteristics of Facebook lottery scams:
- Spelling and grammar mistakes
- Requests to like, share, or tag friends
- Links to unofficial websites
- Suspicious account activity of poster
- Too good to be true prizes
- Requests for personal/banking information
- Direct messaging about winnings
- Pressure to act quickly
If a post claims you won a Facebook lottery you didn’t enter or that you need to pay fees to claim a prize, it is guaranteed to be fake.
How to avoid Facebook lottery scams
Here are some tips to avoid falling victim to Facebook lottery scams:
- Be skeptical of sensational claims offering big prizes or easy money.
- Check for official verification on any promotions and sponsor terms.
- Ignore instructions to share, tag or like posts as ways to enter.
- Don’t open suspicious attachments or click strange links.
- Use updated antivirus software just in case.
- Never give out personal, banking or login details.
- Report fake lotteries to Facebook as spam or a scam.
As the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Maintain a healthy level of skepticism, especially when asked to share posts widely or provide sensitive information.
Should you ever pay for a Facebook lottery?
You should never, under any circumstances, pay money to claim a Facebook lottery prize. This includes:
- Wire transfer or money order “fees”
- Taxes or duties on winnings
- Shipping and handling costs
- Donations to charity
- Legal/paperwork charges
Facebook lottery scammers will often ask for small upfront payments to cover supposed processing costs or taxes. These fees quickly add up, and any money sent is surely lost. Don’t provide your banking details or send money transfers to anybody claiming you won a Facebook lottery.
Are Facebook lotteries illegal?
Yes, any type of Facebook lottery is against the platform’s policies and illegal in most countries. Only authorized companies can legally collect entry fees and provide cash prizes by chance.
Facebook has strict rules against running promotions on their platform to comply with local gambling laws. The scammers flout these rules to try and defraud users.
By promoting and entering unauthorized lotteries on Facebook, users could be subject to legal penalties. However, victims of scams are unlikely to face prosecution.
What to do if you are a victim
If you suspect you fell for a Facebook lottery scam, take these steps immediately:
- Report the fake lottery post to Facebook
- Change your Facebook password and review privacy settings
- Contact banks if you shared any financial information
- Scan devices used to enter the lottery for malware
- File a complaint with the FTC and internet crime division of the FBI
- Warn your friends and contacts about the scam
Unfortunately, it’s very unlikely any money lost can be recovered. Use it as a learning experience to be more vigilant against scams going forward.
Facebook lottery scam examples
Here are some real-world examples of Facebook lottery scams to illustrate how they work:
Fake anniversary giveaway
In the lead up to Facebook’s 15th anniversary in 2019, many users reported seeing posts promoting a $15,000 cash giveaway. The hoax claimed users could enter by liking, sharing, and posting a comment with the hashtag #Facebook15thAnniversary.
One version pretending to be posted by Mark Zuckerberg said: “To celebrate Facebook’s 15th birthday, we’re giving away $15,000 to 1500 lucky users! Just like, share, and comment #Facebook15thAnniversary to enter. Good luck and thanks for being a valued Facebook member!”
The scam aimed to go viral quickly through shares. By engaging, users saw the post more often as it appeared to come from their contacts. At the same time, scammers tracked engagement metrics on viral posts to refine their tactics.
“You’ve already won!” spam
A common scam tactic is claiming a user has already won a prize rather than offering an upfront giveaway. The posts state the user specifically has been selected or identified as a winner. To build trust, the scammers often use a recipient’s actual profile photo.
For example, an account named “Facebook Lottery” sends a user a photo of them with the caption: “Congratulations Jessica! According to our random selection system, you have won our Facebook Lottery for November 2022! You will receive a cash prize of $100,000! Please click the link below to confirm your eligibility and provide your bank details so we can process your prize money!”
By making it seem the user was singled out to win, scammers hope to exploit excitement and trick people into acting quickly without skepticism. Even if it seems you were already chosen, these lotteries are always fake.
Celebrity endorsements
Scammers often hijack celebrity accounts or pretend to be famous figures like Mark Zuckerberg to give their hoaxes an air of authority. Compromised verified accounts post contests, while impersonators make video ads talking about giveaways.
For example, a scammer created a video impersonating Oprah Winfrey announcing “Oprah’s COVID-19 Relief Fund”. It claimed Oprah would pay $10,000 to every user who shared and commented. The hoax spread widely through groups and pages until the real Oprah denied it on her Instagram account.
These celebrity endorsement scams aim to capitalize on a famous figure’s reputation to make the lottery appear legitimate. But no public figure would help scammers defraud their fans through social media lotteries.
Key takeaways
- The Facebook lottery refers to fake giveaways and contests using Facebook’s brand without authorization.
- Scammers use the promise of big money prizes to spread posts and steal user data.
- Facebook does not run lotteries – any promotions are scams.
- Never provide personal details or pay any fees related to lottery winnings.
- Be skeptical of sensational claims and report suspicious posts.
Conclusion
The Facebook lottery is a persistent scam that continues duping users through slick posts with big promises. Don’t get fooled by claims you won money from Facebook contests or giveaways. As scammers find new ways to exploit social media lotteries, it pays to use caution with any promotion tied to liking, sharing, or logging in.
Facebook is getting better at detecting and stopping these scams, but users should stay vigilant as well. Rely on trusted information sources, don’t provide personal details online, and report any suspicious activity. A combination of security tools and skepticism will keep you safest as social platforms and scammers alike become more advanced.
