Unexpected-money scams claim that you have won a prize, inherited money, or are owed a payment. The criminal asks for personal details, an upfront fee, or access to an account before releasing the supposed funds.

• Lottery or competition prize claims.
• An inheritance from an unknown relative.
• A tax refund or other unexpected payment.

• Unexpected contact, time pressure, requests for passwords, or a fee to claim money.
• Do not click links or share PINs, passwords, banking details, or one-time codes.
• Verify claims through an independently sourced official contact.
• Legitimate winnings or refunds do not require you to pay an upfront fee to receive them.