Is it a scam if you win the lottery and the US Gov. Remittance Dept. charges 5% fee upfront as cost of transfer?

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Kendall Morris, Credit Cards Moderator

@kendallmorris • 03/10/18 This answer was first published on 03/10/18. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.

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Yes, it is a scam.

As a general rule of thumb, if you have to pay to collect your winnings, you haven't won. Fraudsters use technology to mask their identity, and they impersonate officials from federal agencies to convince their victims that the scam is legitimate. However, it’s important to remember that the U.S. government does not participate in the distribution of prize money from lotteries and sweepstakes.

You should never give your personal or financial information to these callers, or you might end up with your money and identity stolen. You can learn more at: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2012/08/scammers-exploit-ftcs-good-name-promise-phony-sweepstakes-prizes.

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