Christmas Lottery warning: shoppers urged to watch out for ticket scams
With Spain’s Christmas Lottery draw taking place on Monday, 22nd December, consumer group FACUA–Consumers in Action has issued a warning about a number of common scams linked to lottery tickets and shared entries.
What FACUA is warning about is a scam that often appears after the Christmas Lottery draw, especially when a ticket has won a large prize. In these cases, a third party may approach the winner and offer to buy the winning décimo for more than its official value. The offer is usually made in cash and is presented as a way for the winner to “save on taxes” or avoid declaring part of the prize to the tax authorities.
In reality, this is illegal. These transactions are commonly linked to money laundering, as the buyer is trying to convert undeclared or illicit cash into “clean” money by exchanging it for a winning lottery ticket, which can then be presented to the tax authorities as a legitimate source of income.
FACUA warns that if the authorities investigate such a transaction, it can be extremely difficult for the original winner to prove the legal origin of the money received. This could result in a tax assessment and a heavy fine, potentially wiping out a large part of the prize. In contrast, the person buying the ticket would be able to justify the legality of the funds through the winning lottery slip itself.
For this reason, the organisation advises anyone who receives this type of offer to report it to the Policía Nacional or the Guardia Civil, as it constitutes fraud against Spain’s public finances and could ultimately cost the winner more than half of their prize.
FACUA also highlights problems linked to shared tickets and printed participations. If, after the draw, organisers claim that the printed number was incorrect, consumers should be cautious. The association explains that if an organisation made an error when printing participations, it can be required to pay out the prize, unless it took clear and sufficient steps well before the draw to correct the mistake and inform participants.
In cases where lottery tickets are shared with family members, friends or colleagues, FACUA recommends keeping clear proof. The safest option is to write the names and signatures of all participants directly on the ticket. Email exchanges or messages via WhatsApp or Telegram can also serve as evidence, provided they clearly show that the ticket was shared.
Another issue to watch out for concerns deadlines for claiming prizes. FACUA reminds consumers that participation in the Christmas Lottery cannot impose a deadline of less than three months to collect winnings. Spanish lottery regulations state that the right to claim a prize expires three months from the day after the draw. This rule applies equally to tickets sold by associations, companies or social clubs, regardless of any shorter deadline printed on the participation.
The organisation also warns of cases where organisers admit, only after a win, that they sold more participations than were actually covered by a single décimo. FACUA stresses that anyone who fraudulently issues more shares than permitted is legally obliged to pay the full prize amount to each participant.
Cybercrime is another growing concern around the Christmas Lottery. FACUA says scammers often send emails claiming the recipient has won a prize and asking them to pay a fee or provide personal details to collect it. These messages are designed to steal personal and banking information, and users are urged to ignore them. Anyone who falls victim to this type of scam should report it to the Policía Nacional or the Guardia Civil.
Finally, FACUA has confirmed that the tax rules for the Christmas Lottery remain unchanged. Prizes of up to €40,000 are tax-free. Any amount above that threshold is taxed at 20%, but only on the portion that exceeds €40,000. This taxation is not cumulative, meaning that if a person wins several prizes, none of them will be taxed as long as each individual prize does not exceed the exempt limit.
As the draw approaches, FACUA is urging residents and visitors alike to stay alert, keep clear records when sharing tickets, and be wary of any offer or message that seems too good to be true.
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