Winning the lottery is a dream for many, but winning big is almost always too good to be true. Lottery scams prey on people hoping for a stroke of luck, which makes them especially dangerous as St. Patrick’s Day approaches and social media fills with shamrock-themed promotions, festive giveaways, and messages promising surprise prizes. This seasonal surge creates a prime opening for scammers, who use all types of holiday branding and lottery-style offers to make fraudulent messages feel timely and legitimate. The National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Experian all warn that prize and lottery scams are growing more sophisticated and therefore more catastrophic. As holiday promotions flood social media feeds, staying vigilant is essential, especially when celebrations lower our guard.
A common scam around this time of year is the “Irish National Lottery,” where scammers claim you’ve won a government-sponsored prize but must first provide personal information or pay a processing fee in order to collect it. The moment that your sensitive data changes hands, the scammer disappears. These schemes work because they exploit trust, cultural familiarity, and the excitement that surrounds the holidays.
In today’s digital environment, fraud has evolved and scams can look very convincing. Scammers create accounts that look official, complete with logos, polished branding, and even fake verification badges. But online, nearly anything you encounter can be fabricated. According to the FTC, there are three clear red flags: any prize that requires payment, any offer claiming that paying increases your odds of winning, and any unexpected outreach asking for personal or financial information.
Still, individuals should not bear the entire burden alone and the numbers make clear why. According to the FBI, Americans lost a record $16.6 billion to online scams and internet crimes in 2024, while 73% of U.S. adults reported experiencing some form of online scam or attack. These aren’t isolated incidents. They represent a systemic failure that demands a systemic response.
As our economy becomes increasingly digital, personal data has become just as valuable as money, and scammers treat it that way. When fraudulent accounts operate openly on major social media platforms, the consequences extend far beyond individual victims. Fraudulent posts generate clicks, shares, engagement, and advertising impressions. A recent investigation found that a social media company internally projected billions of dollars in annual revenue tied to scam-related advertising, including ads that showed clear warning signs of fraud, and that enforcement decisions were at times weighed against potential revenue impacts. Even when scams are eventually removed, they may have already generated significant traffic, ad revenue, and real harm to consumers. The result is a troubling reality: when digital ecosystems monetize engagement at scale, even fraudulent engagement can become profitable, leaving ordinary Americans to shoulder the financial and emotional cost.
Some in Congress are now taking notice. Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) have introduced the bipartisan Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act, which would require social media platforms to verify the identity of paid advertisers before their content goes live, and would strengthen both the FTC’s and states’ ability to enforce consumer protection laws. The legislation has drawn support from AARP and the Consumer Federation of America; a sign that concern over online fraud is cutting across political and generational lines.
Strong communities and stronger economic environments are built on confidence. Hardworking Americans deserve a digital marketplace where opportunity is real and trust is protected. That requires shared accountability. When platforms take meaningful steps to prevent fraud — through stronger verification systems, faster removal of bad actors, and more transparent reporting tools — they are helping to ensure that economic growth benefits everyone.
St. Patrick’s Day should be about celebration — not exploitation. Recognizing red flags and thinking twice before sharing personal information can prevent financial loss. But building a safer digital environment requires more than individual caution; it requires shared responsibility from platforms, lawmakers, and consumers alike. When consumer protection and economic growth move forward together, communities are stronger, and no one has to rely on luck to stay secure.
References
National Insurance Crime Bureau
Everest Financial Advisors
https://www.everestfa.com/blog/top-4-social-media-money-scams-how-spot-them
Written in partnership with Tom White
