These examples are from California, but similar organisations exist almost everywhere in the world, to help people who have suffered from a sweepstake scam.

Your Local District Attorney. Look in the county government pages of your phone book under the name of your county.

The Attorney General. Write a letter of complaint to the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Public Inquiry Unit, Post Office Box 944255, Sacramento, CA 94244-2550, 1-800-952-5225, www.caag.state.ca.us.

The U.S. Postal Service. If you have a problem with a contest or sweepstakes, and the entry form and promotional material was sent to you in the mail, contact the local postal inspector or post-master. Incidents of suspected mail fraud can be reported to the Inspection Service by completing PS Form 8165, Mail Fraud Questionnaire. This form is available at your local post office or can be requested via the Internet (fraud@uspis.gov). The U.S.Postal Inspector may also take action against foreign lotteries soliciting people within the United States.

The Federal Trade Commission. If you feel an advertisement for a contest or sweepstakes was misleading, or a method of promotion was deceptive, send a copy of your complaint letter to the Federal Trade Commission, 901 Market Street, Suite 570, San Francisco, CA 94103-1798, 415-356-5270, or 10877 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90024, 310-824-4300, www.ftc.gov. It’s a good idea to include a copy of the advertisement or deceptive promotional material. The FTC does not resolve individual problems, but determines if a particular practice generally injures the public. Your letter of complaint may help convince the commission to investigate a company or business practice.