Know the rules. Spot the scams.
Short, plain-English lessons on the U.S. consumer-protection law that governs every legitimate giveaway.
FEATURED GUIDE
How to spot a fake giveaway
The complete 60-second checklist: red flags, green flags, and the legal rules behind each.
All lessons
What “no purchase necessary” really means
U.S. anti-lottery law turns on three elements: prize, chance, and consideration. Remove any one and you have a sweepstakes, not an illegal lottery. This is the single most important rule.
Why shipping fees are an instant red flag
If a giveaway asks the winner to pay shipping, processing, taxes, or any other fee to claim a prize — that's “consideration.” That converts a sweepstakes into an illegal lottery and is the #1 sign of a scam.
Official rules: what they must include
Eligibility, start/end dates, sponsor identity, prize description and approximate retail value (ARV), odds, how to enter, no-purchase-necessary entry method, void-where-prohibited, and a winner-list disclosure.
Platform disclaimers (IG / TikTok / X)
Every major platform requires the host to state the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with the platform. Missing this gets posts removed and exposes the host to liability.
How to spot a fake winner announcement
Brand-new account, suspicious follower-to-following ratio, no comments from real friends, no DMs answered, no public proof. Real winners almost always post unboxing or thank-you content.
Reporting a scam — what evidence helps
Screenshots of the original post, any DMs requesting payment, the “winner” account, payment requests, and the date of the draw. The more evidence, the faster moderators can act.