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Scam Contests and Prize Alerts: “You’ve Won an iPhone!” – But You Lose Money

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“I got a text saying I’d won a new iPhone. All I had to do was pay 49 CZK. I entered my card details – and then several more charges followed.”

Fake prize notifications are among the most common types of online fraud, especially on mobile devices.
They target your instant excitement and impulse – “You’ve won!”, “Claim your prize”, “Just pay a small fee.”
In reality, it’s either a fake payment gateway or a hidden subscription, which keeps charging your account.

This kind of scam may constitute fraud (§ 209 of the Czech Criminal Code), unauthorized use of a payment instrument (§ 234), and sometimes deceptive business practices.
These websites often mimic official brands (Apple, Samsung, major e-shops) but are run anonymously from abroad.
It’s important to file a criminal complaint – even if the amount was small, especially when repeated.

📌 Common Signs

  • Text or email claiming you’ve won (a phone, tablet, money)

  • A request to pay a small fee (e.g., 1 CZK, 49 CZK, 99 CZK)

  • Prompt to enter your payment card details

  • Hidden subscription to a premium service (e.g., 999 CZK/month)

  • The payment page doesn’t lead to your bank, but to a suspicious site

  • Countdown timers (“3 minutes left!”) to create pressure

⚖️ Possible Criminal Charges

  • Fraud (§ 209)

  • Unauthorized use of a payment instrument (§ 234)

  • Deceptive business practices / Consumer protection violations

🧾 What Evidence Should You Gather?

  • Screenshot of the SMS or email

  • Screenshot of the “prize” page

  • Bank statement showing charges or recurring payments

  • URL of the site you were redirected to

  • Description of how the “payment” process unfolded

❗ Risk

These scams are often dismissed because they involve small amounts.
But hundreds of people lose thousands of CZK every month, as the charges continue and canceling them is difficult.
Fraudsters create new scam sites faster than they can be reported.
Without criminal complaints, nothing gets investigated – and the scams continue.

✅ What I Can Do for You

  • Draft and file a detailed criminal complaint

  • Help contact your bank and block further charges

  • Explain your legal options against the subscription

  • All for a fixed fee of CZK 10,000 + VAT

🎯 Received a prize message? Entered your card details and now getting charged?
📩 Reach out – let’s stop it before it gets worse.
💬 Just message me “contest iPhone” – and I’ll handle the rest.

Contact a legal professional – I specialize in criminal law.
Learn more here.

  • Naposledy aktualizováno: 30/06/2025

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