From a pop-culture staple in the 1950s to the popularity of Publisher’s Clearing House in the 1980s, a blast from the past is back in a big way: Sweepstakes.
Sweepstakes are still very much a thing in 2026—and you could even call it a new kind of Prize Patrol.
So what’s fueling the trend, and what steps can you take so “free” doesn’t turn into costly?
Sweepstakes are showing up in a new way: online, in social feeds, and even among friend groups. People aren’t just playing for fun any more. Some say it’s a fun way to try to win a little extra and stretch tight budgets without taking on another job.
News4JAX spotted the trend in an AARP article titled: “For These Retirees, Sweepstakes Are More Than Just a Game.,”
It found groups of seniors around the country meeting up to enter sweepstakes together—some winning money and prizes.
Seems fun, right?
But this is 2026 and scams are everywhere, especially online. That made locals skeptical and concerned that fraudsters might be looking to take advantage of people on fixed incomes.
AARP mentions several websites that players can use to help filter out scams like iwincontests.com and Sweepingamerica.com.
“The mailer, just as the text messages and the phone calls and the emails are a pre-qualifier as to whether or not you are gullible enough,” said cybersecurity expert Chris Hamer, who has looked into countless online scams for News4JAX over the last 15 years.
Not surprisingly, he urges caution, warning that statistics show elderly financial exploitation generated more than $28 billion last year for scammers.
“It’s a profitable business,” Hamer said.
In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission reported people over 60 were three times as likely to be scammed in sweepstakes, prize or lottery scams.
So what should you do?
Hamer said if you play, go with an organization you trust, like an established business, a church or a school or sports team that you’re familiar with so if there’s a problem you can reach out.
One of the ways seniors are working around the threat of scams is getting together in groups. AARP points out there’s no I in sweepstakes, but working in a group can help filter out any scam-like outlets.
Another risk that affects everyone—not just seniors—is what happens to your data.
One player told AARP that after playing sweepstakes on social media, “the algorithm notices, your feed will change, and you’ll see lots of sweepstakes appear.”
Hamer points out that as soon as you enter any information for a sweepstakes online, advertisers notice.
“Really, what they’re doing is they’re harvesting your name and your email address so that you can receive more marketing material,” Hamer said.
So, if you’re going to try it try and remember some tips other players use:
- Play in groups so you have other people on the look out for a scam
- If possible, only play sweepstakes with an established business or entity you know and trust. That way you have someone to reach out to if there’s a problem.
- Also, be EXTREMELY cautious about any sweepstakes that reaches out to you, rather than you finding them. Particularly if they want money. Beyond scams, Hamer says that information is also sent to marketing companies or picked up by social media algorithms.
So in this age of online scams everywhere you look, have fun but use caution because the only prize worth it is one that doesn’t cost you later!.