If you must pay to receive a prize, it is not a prize.
Direct answer
Advance fee fraud asks you to pay a fee first in return for a much larger reward that never arrives. Common versions include lottery prizes you never entered, inheritance claims from strangers, guaranteed loans with upfront fees and jobs that require you to pay for training or equipment.
Common versions
- "You won a lottery. Pay a processing fee."
- "A relative left you money. Pay legal costs."
- "Your loan is approved. Pay the insurance first."
- "You got the job. Pay for your equipment."
Warning signs
- You did not enter or apply.
- Payment is requested by gift card, crypto or transfer.
- Urgency and secrecy.
- Poor spelling or unofficial email addresses.
What to do
- Stop communicating.
- Do not pay.
- Verify using official websites.
- Report it.
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's How Scams and Financial Fraud Work course turns this into short lessons you can play in a few minutes a day. It has 50 lessons, and you can start free.
The bottom line
Legitimate prizes, loans and jobs do not ask you to pay first.
This is general education, not personal financial advice.
