A 7-Point Checklist for Spotting a Fake EuroMillions Message

Messages claiming that you've won a lottery are among the most common scams. They arrive by text, email, phone, letter and social media, and they often use the name of a real lottery, including EuroMillions. This short checklist covers the signs worth checking before you reply, click or pay anything.

The checklist

1. Did you actually enter? You can't win a draw you didn't enter. This is the single most reliable test: if you haven't bought a ticket for that draw, any message saying you've won is a scam.

2. Did the message come out of the blue? Scam messages arrive unexpectedly, by text, email, phone call or social media. Some even claim to come from a real winner offering to share their prize. Fake accounts impersonating real winners are a known tactic.

3. Are you being asked to pay something first? Lottery fraud commonly asks for an upfront "fee", "tax" or "release payment" before any winnings can be paid. Be especially wary of any request to pay with gift cards or vouchers.

4. Are you being rushed or told to keep it secret? Scammers create pressure so you don't have time to think or talk to anyone. If you're told to act immediately, or to keep your "win" confidential, treat that as a warning sign.

5. Does the sender look right? Check the email address and the website address. Genuine organisations rarely write from free email services such as Gmail or Hotmail, and fraudulent websites often use addresses that are only slightly different from the real one.

6. Don't rely on spelling mistakes. Poor spelling and grammar can be a clue, but they aren't a reliable test any more. Scammers can now produce polished, professional-looking messages, so a well-written message isn't proof that it's genuine.

7. Verify independently. Don't use the links, phone numbers or email addresses in the message. Look up the lottery operator yourself and contact it using details you've found on its official website. If you hold an account with a company, log in through its official site or app rather than through a link.

What to do if you think it's a scam

• Don't reply, click or pay. Don't share personal or financial details.
• Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
• Forward suspicious texts to 7726, a free reporting service offered by mobile networks.
• If you've paid or shared financial information, contact your bank straight away and report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. This covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud in December 2025, so older guidance that mentions Action Fraud is out of date.

In summary

A genuine prize needs a ticket you bought or an entry you made. A message that asks you to pay, hurry or keep a secret, or that comes from nowhere, doesn't pass the test, however convincing it looks.