Online Prize Draw Scams

ONLINE RAFFLE SCAMS

Online Raffle Scams are exactly what we at Rafflers are trying to prevent. It is a rising issue and being aware of the type of scams that are out there is a step in the right direction in preventing innocent people being scammed.

Unfortunately, Facebook is the most common platform for Online Raffle Scams and we would like to point out the most common things to look out for..

Facebook Scams

Facebook is the most popular place to promote online raffles. It is a great way for those running online raffles to reach potential ticket buyers and it also serves as a great platform for LIVE draws. However, Facebook should not be used to HOST a raffle but instead should only be used as a marketing tool. All online raffles should be hosted via an external website where tickets can be purchased. Here are the things to look out for before thinking of entering a Raffle hosted on Facebook…

No Website

You will find some Facebook business pages (even personal Facebook pages) claiming to be a legitimate raffle provider do not have a link to an official website where raffle tickets can be purchased. Instead, you are expected to enter by sending your payment direct to the raffle provider via the Facebook page. By doing this you are at a high risk of being scammed and possibly your bank details being stolen. AVOID THIS AT ALL COSTS!

Low Amount of Followers

Another sign that a raffle on Facebook maybe a scam is if the amount of followers or Facebook Page Likes are very low. If there is a link on the Facebook Page directing you to an official website then it will mostly be that it is a very new raffle provider, so we then recommend that you read our ‘What is the law for Online Raffles?” to ensure that the website you are viewing is legitimate. To clarify, a low amount of followers does not mean it is a scam, but as a precaution please do have a look at our Vetting Process or ‘How Do Online raffles Work’ on the Rafflers website. 

Fake Followers & Page Likes

If a Facebook page has a large amount of Followers or Page Likes, but does not have many actual page posts or interactions visible in their news feed, then we would recommended being very cautious.
Every Facebook page has a ‘Page Transparency’ section.

This section will show when the specific Facebook page was created. If the date shows that the page was created recently and the page has a low amount of followers (and it has a link to an official website) then this is most likely a legitimate page. 

To access the ‘Page Transparency’ information you simply need to click on the ‘About’ section of the Facebook Page.

No Contact Information

A Facebook business page that is promoting an online raffle should have some contact details visible within their profile information. A legitimate online raffle provider should at least the following information..

– Website Address

– Email Address

– Business Address

If the Facebook Page does not have any of these contact details then you are at risk of it being a scam. Close the page down and move on!

Asking for Paypal/Card Payment

If the person hosting the raffle on a Facebook Page is asking for your card details or Paypal payment in order to buy tickets, then be extremely cautious. To clarify, any purchasing of raffle tickets should be made though a dedicated website. That website should be following a set of rules in order to make that raffle business legal. Our advice is, if you are required to send payment to someone purely through a Facebook Page then simply assume it is a scam.

Poor Punctuation

Another sign of a scam is if you find spelling mistakes and poor grammar in the post advertising the raffle. Many of the scammers are located in foreign countries and their English Language can be a tell tale sign that they are scammers! Remember, if things seem a little suspicious – assume its a scam and move on!

Online Prize Draw Scams - FAQ's

Online prize draw scams are fake competitions where scammers pretend to run a legitimate online prize draw in order to steal money or personal information from entrants. These scams often appear convincing, especially on social media platforms like Facebook, where fraudsters promote fake prizes or draws to attract ticket buyers.

Facebook is widely used by online prize draw providers to promote prize draws and host LIVE draws, which makes it a prime target for scammers. Fraudsters create fake Facebook pages or posts advertising prize draws and then ask people to send money directly through Facebook, PayPal, or bank transfer. Legitimate prize draw providers normally promote their draws on Facebook but host ticket sales on their official website.

No. Legitimate online prize draws should not be hosted directly on Facebook. Facebook is typically used as a marketing platform to promote prize draws and stream LIVE draws. Ticket purchases should always take place on a dedicated prize draw website, where the competition terms, ticket allocation, and payment processing are handled securely.

Not always. Some scammers buy fake followers and page likes to make their Facebook page look legitimate. A better approach is to check the ‘Page Transparency’ section, which shows when the page was created. If the page was created recently but already has thousands of followers and very little content, it could be a cloned or fake page.

No. Legitimate tickets should always be purchased through a secure website, not through direct payments on Facebook. If someone asks you to send card details, PayPal payments, or bank transfers through a Facebook message, it is a major red flag and likely a scam.

A genuine online prize draw provider should clearly display contact information such as:

  • An official website address

  • A business email address

  • A registered business address

If none of these details are available on the Facebook page or website, the prize draw may not be legitimate.

They can be. Many scammers operate internationally and may post prize draw promotions with poor spelling, grammar, or unusual wording. While occasional mistakes can happen, consistent language issues combined with other warning signs may indicate that the prize draw is fraudulent.