Read the front and back of unsolicited checks you get in the mail. By cashing the check, you may be agreeing to be billed monthly for something you don't want or need. In a sweepstakes , you do not have to know, do or pay anything. Sweepstakes are legal. In a lottery , you have to pay to try to win.
Lotteries are legal in the U.S. if they are run by states or certain charitable organizations.
It is illegal to buy foreign lottery tickets by phone, fax or mail. In a skill contest , you have to know the answers to questions or how to do something. You may have to pay a fee or buy merchandise to enter. Multi-level marketing plans , which can be legal, are ways to sell goods or services through distributors. Pyramid schemes , which are illegal, focus on the commissions you earn just for recruiting new distributors.