What’s fueling the renewed sweepstakes trend & how can you protect yourself from scams & rip-offs

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?