Unexpected Money? Don’t Get Fooled by ‘Free Cash’ Scams

• Unexpected Money Scams
• Advance‑Fee Fraud
• Protect Yourself

Scammers promise entitlements, rebates or winnings—but it’s never free money. Learn how to spot ‘unexpected money’ scams and protect yourself online.

What Are ‘Unexpected Money’ Scams?

These scams involve fraudsters contacting you out of the blue—via email, SMS, social media or phone—claiming you're owed money, a rebate or a prize. They say you must pay a small fee or share your bank/ID details to access it. There is no free money—only a scam designed to steal from you.

Warning Signs of a Scam

• An unexpected message claiming you're owed money—importantly, you never entered a contest or application.
• Requests for upfront fees to release the funds—legitimate institutions don’t charge to distribute entitlements.
• "Official" letters, court notices or emails demanding personal or financial info.
• Stories of inheritance, lottery winnings, rebates or compensation that require payment first.

How to Protect Yourself

• Stop and think: Offers that sound too good to be true usually are.
• Don’t pay any fee to claim “prizes” or rebates: Legitimate services won’t ask for payment to deliver funds.
• Guard your personal info: Never share bank, credit card or ID documents with unsolicited contacts.
• Verify independently: Check with your bank, a lawyer or trusted friend before taking any action.
• Search online: Look up the offer’s details—often the same message has been reported by others.
• Confirm via the source: If a friend shares a prize notice, contact them outside that platform to be sure they sent it.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

• Contact your bank or card provider right away: Ask them to block and reverse transactions.
• Report to Scamwatch and report the incident: These reports help authorities track scam patterns.
• Seek support from IDCARE: They provide free help with identity theft and scams.
• Warn your network: Share the scam details so others don’t fall victim too.

Types of Unexpected Money Scams

• Rebate or ‘reclaim’ scams: You’re told you owe or are owed a refund that requires a fee to access.
• Inheritance scams: Messages claim you’ve inherited money—you only need to pay “administration fees.”
• Lottery or prize scams: Notifications of winnings you didn’t enter, asking for payment to receive the prize.

Key Takeaways

Scammers bank on greed and confusion. Protect yourself by:

• Stopping and thinking before clicking.
• Refusing to pay before receiving anything.
• Never sharing your personal or financial information with unsolicited contacts.
• Verifying messages with trusted sources.

Trust your instincts—if it feels too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.