If you won a sweepstakes, would you trust it?

I just won a ten thousand dollar sweepstakes, but I'm being asked to purchase a surety bond in order to cash my winning check. Is this proper procedure, or just another scam?

If you won a sweepstakes, would you trust it?
scam!! the red flag should go up as soon as they say you need to spend money in order to get your prize. if you won something then you won something. since when do you have to pay for a prize they are going to give you anyway! its a scam throw the thing away.remember you never have to purchase your winnings. it doesn't makes sense. and your intuition is telling you that this is fake, otherwise you would not be here asking, listen to your intuition. and throw it in the trash. everybody get those letters how could everyone win the same prize at the same time. just toss it.
Reply:I've been through this since starting my wedding planning. I've "won" several vacation getaways, all expenses paid. I was psyched the first time but everyone else made fun of me. It sounded convincing because they told me they were "not affiliated with timeshares" or anything, but then someone asked me the simplest question that brought it all to light: "did you enter a sweepstakes?" And I was like, "oh.." I didn't, my information was just sold by a well-known bridal store chain that requires your info to register there. So if you didn't enter any sweepstakes, I personally would be suspicious. Also maybe ask them how the winners were chosen?
Reply:Oh, so now the scam is claiming it's a "surety bond"???





I deal with the victims of advance-fee scams a lot.


I've heard the following "reasons" that the victims just had to wire money in:





Canadian taxes (Canada doesn't tax lottery winnings).





US estimated taxes (the IRS accepts checks and money orders made payable to US treasury, not Western Union wires to Joe Blow, IRS "agent.").





US customs duty (documents aren't subject to tariffs).





Non-existant "anti-money laundering" or "anti-terrorist" certificates due to 9/11 or the Patriot Act (9/11 was a field day for scammers!).





Lawyer fees that somehow can't be taken out of the winnings.


Non-existant courier/document fees that must be paid to insure the envelope containing the "check."





Etc.





And, if you are stupid enough to fall for this and send them the money, they will come back and say that your 3rd prize is on hold for the moment; the 2nd prize winner has declined their prize, so if you can just send more money, you can have that prize too....





Alternately, here's the winning check, but you "must" send the taxes via Western Union by Friday. (The check is fake or stolen and they hope your bank will give a courtesy credit on the amount before realizing the check is no good and asking for their money back.)
Reply:It's just a scam. You can't win something you never entered. Why would anyone have to post a bond if they won money anyway? Tell them to take the amount of the bond out of your winnings and see what BS they tell you next.
Reply:It's a scam. Do you even remember entering this sweepstakes? Just delete\trash any notes\emails you get from them.
Reply:SCAM!