Share-to-Unlock Prize Scam

A fake prize page uses a familiar brand name and promises a gift, but says you must share the page with several groups or friends before you can continue. The page may then send the people you contact to other unfamiliar domains. This pressure tactic is designed to spread the scam and can lead to requests for personal or payment information.

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Share-to-Unlock Prize Scam example

How this scam works

  1. 1

    Step 1: You receive or open a page that uses a well-known brand name and says you have won a prize.

  2. 2

    Step 2: The page asks you to share it with multiple groups or friends through messaging apps before you can claim the prize.

  3. 3

    Step 3: The shared link may use an unrelated web address and take recipients through another prize or reward page.

  4. 4

    Step 4: The page may later ask for personal details, payment information, or additional actions to release the supposed prize.

✓ Do this

  • Close the page and verify promotions through the brand's official website or app, opened independently.
  • Warn anyone you may have sent the link to so they do not open it or share it further.
  • Report the message or page through the service where you received it, then delete it.
  • If you entered information or payment details, contact your bank or card provider and change any reused password through the official service.

✗ Avoid this

  • Do not share the page with groups, friends, or family to unlock a prize.
  • Do not enter personal, account, or payment information on an unfamiliar prize page.
  • Do not trust a brand logo, countdown, comments, or claims that other people already received the reward.
  • Do not use links from the page to verify the promotion; find the official brand website yourself.

Need help with a similar message?

Do not reply, pay, or use contact details in an unexpected message. Verify through the official app or website, then report what you saw so the Archive can connect related patterns.

Report a scam See common red flags Check a suspicious email

Quick tip: Verify independently

Don’t call numbers or click links in unexpected messages. Go directly to the company’s official site or app and contact support from there.

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