How to Enter Holiday Giveaways in Henderson, Nevada Without Scams

Henderson hosts legitimate holiday giveaways through the City of Henderson's annual events, where you can enter without risk by sticking to in-person, vendor-hosted, and officially promoted opportunities. The safest giveaways are ones you can verify directly with a business or the city—not ones that contact you out of the blue asking for money, personal details, or payments to claim a prize you never entered. The holidays bring scammers posing as giveaway sponsors, but real giveaways follow predictable rules: no entry fee, no payment to claim your prize, and no request for your Social Security number or bank account.

Learning to spot the difference takes just a few minutes and saves you from the scams that cost Americans over $301 million annually.

Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on September 23, 2026.

Where to find legitimate Henderson holiday giveaways

The City of Henderson runs holiday shopping events with free giveaways, including the Water Street Plaza holiday market (featuring over 100 local vendors, free treats, Santa visits, and giveaways) and Shop Small Saturday (with free giveaways and dining specials at downtown businesses). These are city-promoted, in-person events where you can enter directly with the vendors or the city—no online form or personal information required beyond your name for a raffle entry. Local Henderson businesses often run their own holiday giveaways in-store or through their social media pages during November and December.

The easiest way to find them: visit a business's official website or call them directly to ask about current giveaways. If a giveaway sounds suspicious—you received an email or text from someone claiming you won something you never entered—that is not a Henderson city or local business giveaway.

The most common holiday giveaway red flags

You should never have won a giveaway you did not enter, and if someone tells you that you did, it is a scam. Real sweepstakes are awarded by chance alone—you had to enter to win. If an email, text, or call announces you won a prize without any entry on your part, delete it or hang up.

Watch for these warning signs: Scammers often impersonate legitimate companies or government agencies like the IRS or Social Security Administration. If you receive a giveaway notification, contact the company directly using contact information you find yourself—not from the message—to confirm the offer is real.

• You are contacted out of the blue saying you won money or a prize
• The message asks you to "claim" or "verify" your win
• You are told to act immediately or the prize expires
• The sender is vague about what you supposedly won or what company is giving it away

What legitimate giveaways never ask for

Legitimate giveaways do not require you to pay for "taxes," "shipping and handling," "processing fees," or any money to collect your prize. If someone asks for payment, it is a scam. The same rule applies to gift card codes, wire transfers via Western Union or MoneyGram, or prepaid cards—real companies do not ask for these to deliver a prize you won.

Scammers request personal information like your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card details to "claim" prizes, but legitimate prizes never require you to share financial or sensitive information over email, text, or phone. A real giveaway sponsor collects only what it needs to deliver a physical prize—typically your name and mailing address—and nothing more.

How to verify a giveaway before you enter or claim

Contact the company directly using contact information you find yourself—not from the person who contacted you—to confirm you actually won or that the offer exists. Look up the company's official website, call their main number from their site, or visit their social media page directly. Real companies confirm their own giveaways quickly.

Before entering an online giveaway, check that the website uses encryption security (look for "https://" in the URL and a lock icon), shop at reputable businesses, and search the company name with the word "scam" to check for complaints. If multiple sources report the company as fraudulent, do not enter or give it any information. If you are asked to pay money to "verify" your entry or claim a prize, stop and call the company's main number to check—legitimate companies never do this.

What to do if you are targeted by a scam

If you receive a suspicious giveaway offer, do not reply, click links, download files, or provide any information. Report suspected holiday scams to the Federal Trade Commission or Nevada Attorney General's office. If you already sent money via wire transfer or shared financial information, contact your bank immediately and file a report with the FTC and Nevada Attorney General.

For protection during holiday shopping and giveaway entries, use credit cards instead of debit cards so disputed charges are easier to reverse. Nevada warns that scammers use wire transfers because they are difficult to trace and cannot be recovered if you discover fraud after sending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are holiday giveaways in Henderson always free to enter?

Yes. Legitimate giveaways hosted by the City of Henderson and local businesses require no entry fee or payment. If someone asks you for money to enter or claim a prize, it is a scam.

What should I do if I receive an email saying I won a Henderson holiday giveaway I did not enter?

Delete it or do not respond. Contact the company directly using information you find on their official website to confirm the giveaway is real. Real sponsors do not contact winners out of the blue for giveaways the winners did not enter.

Can I get my money back if I already sent it to a giveaway scammer?

Wire transfers through Western Union or MoneyGram are difficult to trace and usually cannot be recovered. Contact your bank and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and Nevada Attorney General immediately if this happens to you.