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1. Congratulations: You Won!

The lottery/sweepstakes con is so old you'd think a kindergartner would see through it. But it's one of the top scams consumers fall for, according to the FTC. Last year, it claimed a whopping 45,587 victims.

The trick? You receive a letter or phone call telling you that you've won a lottery or sweepstakes that you never entered. But to collect your prize, you have to pay an upfront fee, tax or some other related charge. Once you wire the cash, no gift or cash prize ever arrives.

What to do: Anything that requires upfront payment is a scam, says Jay Miller, an FTC official who works with law enforcement. Report all such offers and letters to the FTC.

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