Raffles
How to spot a fake sneaker release ad or raffle
FTC advice applied to sneaker drops: go to the retailer's own site, distrust deep discounts, pay by credit card and never pay to enter a raffle.
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The short answer: reach every release and raffle through the retailer's own website or app, not a link in an ad or a message, and walk away from any seller that wants payment by gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency. That is the core of the Federal Trade Commission's online shopping advice, and it fits sneaker launches well.
Why sneaker buyers should care
In an April 2026 release, the FTC said shopping was the most reported type of social media scam in 2025, and that many of the ads people reported led to unfamiliar websites or to sites impersonating well known brands with big discounts. Limited releases, countdowns and "last pairs" messages create the same kind of urgency.
Five checks before you enter or pay
- Go direct. The FTC says that if you are unsure an ad is real, go to the company's website using a page you know is official, not the link in the ad. For Nike launches that means the SNKRS app or nike.com; for other brands, type the address yourself.
- Be wary of low prices. The FTC calls unusually low prices a sign of a scam. A hyped pair sold far below retail before release day deserves a second look.
- Research the seller. Search the shop's name and web address with words like "review," "complaint" or "scam," as the FTC suggests.
- Pay by credit card. The FTC says credit cards let you dispute a charge if you are billed for something you never got. It adds that https in the address means the connection is encrypted, not that the site is legitimate, in its online shopping guide.
- Never pay to enter. A "raffle" that asks for an entry fee, or a "you won" message that sends you to a new payment link, is a reason to stop and go to the retailer directly.
If something goes wrong
The FTC says to keep receipts and order confirmations, and it takes reports at its official reporting site. Our raffles page lists a raffle only after we confirm it on the retailer's own page, and our SNKRS Draw and Line guide explains how Nike's own launches work. This is general consumer information, not legal advice.