Is the Postcode Lottery Prize Voucher Genuine? How to Check Safely
• July 24, 2026
Quick Answer: Is the Postcode Lottery Prize Voucher Genuine?
Yes, a People’s Postcode Lottery prize voucher can be genuine. Prize vouchers are an official type of non-cash prize, and winning players receive a voucher code that can be redeemed for products through the Lotteryshop.
However, this does not mean that every email, letter, telephone call or social media message claiming to contain a prize voucher is authentic.
Scammers may copy the Postcode Lottery name, logo and contact details to make a fake prize notification appear convincing.
For anyone searching “is postcode lottery prize voucher genuine”, the safest answer is:
Postcode Lottery prize vouchers are real, but you should independently verify the specific voucher notification before clicking a link, entering a code or sharing personal information.
Official guidance confirms that voucher winners may be contacted by email or letter.
The organisation also warns that you must have entered the lottery to win and that a legitimate lottery will not demand an advance payment before releasing a prize.
Key Takeaways:
- People’s Postcode Lottery prize vouchers are a genuine non-cash prize type.
- An official prize type does not make every notification genuine.
- You must normally be an active player to win.
- Never pay a tax, insurance charge, processing fee or release fee to claim a prize.
- Check the winning postcode through the official website yourself.
- Do not trust a sender name, logo or displayed telephone number alone.
- Contact Postcode Lottery independently when anything appears suspicious.
What Is a People’s Postcode Lottery Prize Voucher?
A People’s Postcode Lottery prize voucher is a non-cash prize that allows a winning player to select a product from the official Lotteryshop.
According to the official non-cash prizes page, winners receive a voucher code that can be redeemed against available products.
The shop typically offers a range that may include cookware, books, confectionery and home electronics. Availability can change, and products are offered while stocks last.
How Does a Postcode Lottery Prize Voucher Work?
The usual process is:
- An active player’s postcode is selected in a relevant draw.
- Postcode Lottery notifies the player of the win.
- The winner receives a voucher or redemption code.
- The winner enters the code through the official Lotteryshop portal.
- The winner chooses from the products currently available.
Players with more than one ticket may be entitled to more than one product. Official guidance says one voucher code is issued, but the redemption portal shows how many prizes remain available for the winning tickets.
Is a Prize Voucher the Same as an e-Gift Card?
No. A Lotteryshop prize voucher and a Postcode Lottery e-Gift Card are separate prize types.
A prize voucher is used to select an item from the Lotteryshop. An e-Gift Card allows the winner to choose a digital gift card from a selection of participating national retailers. The official website provides separate redemption services for the two prize types.
This distinction is useful when checking whether a Postcode Lottery voucher is genuine. The claiming instructions should match the type of prize described in the notification.
How Does Postcode Lottery Contact Prize Voucher Winners?
Postcode Lottery may contact winners by email, SMS, letter or telephone, depending on the prize. Therefore, an email or postal letter is not automatically a scam—but the recipient should still verify it independently.
Can a Genuine Voucher Arrive by Email?
Yes. Prize-voucher winners who have an email address registered on their account are sent an email containing a voucher code when the winning postcodes are announced.
The official non-cash prizes page states that its prize-confirmation email comes from:
info@service.postcodelottery.co.uk
However, an apparently correct sender address is not conclusive evidence. Email addresses and display names can be imitated, so readers should avoid relying on the sender field alone.
Can a Genuine Voucher Arrive by Post?
Yes. If Postcode Lottery does not hold an email address for a prize-voucher winner, it says a letter will be sent to the registered home address. Its “What Happens Next?” guidance says the letter should arrive later in the same week.
A postal letter should still be checked carefully. Which? has documented fake letters that copied People’s Postcode Lottery branding and falsely claimed recipients had been selected despite not being players.
Can Winners Be Contacted by Telephone?
Yes, depending on the prize. Postcode Lottery advises players who receive a winning call to ask the caller to confirm information such as their full ticket number, player reference number and first draw date.
Caller identification is not proof of authenticity. The organisation warns that scammers can “spoof” a telephone number so that a genuine-looking number appears on the recipient’s screen.
Seven Ways to Check Whether a Postcode Lottery Voucher Is Genuine
1. Confirm That You Are an Active Player
The first check is whether you actually entered People’s Postcode Lottery.
Official scam guidance states that you cannot win unless you have entered and that you must be a Postcode Lottery player to win one of its prizes. A notification sent to someone who has never subscribed is therefore a serious warning sign.
Check that:
- You had an active entry for the relevant prize month.
- The postcode in the notification is the postcode you play with.
- The name and account details are consistent with your subscription.
2. Check the Winning Postcode Independently
Do not use a button or link in an unexpected prize email.
Instead, type the official Postcode Lottery address into your browser or use a trusted bookmark. Open the results section and search for the postcode connected to your entry.
The official results page allows players to search their playing postcode. It also states that winners can confirm results through the website or by calling the Customer Experience team.
Make sure the postcode, announcement date and prize type match the information in your voucher notification.
3. Never Pay a Fee to Release the Prize
A genuine Postcode Lottery voucher should not require an advance payment.
Official scam guidance warns that legitimate lotteries do not demand taxes, customs charges, insurance, shipping or handling fees before winnings can be received. It also says winners will never be asked to pay anything to obtain their prize.
Treat the message as suspicious if it asks for:
- A processing or administration fee
- A prize-release payment
- Tax or customs charges
- Insurance or delivery costs
- Payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards or money transfer
- Money to prevent the prize from expiring
4. Examine the Sender and Website Address
Look beyond the Postcode Lottery logo and colours. These can be copied from the genuine website.
Check for:
- Misspelt website addresses
- Extra words, numbers or hyphens in the domain
- Shortened or concealed links
- Free personal email accounts
- Poor grammar or inconsistent branding
- Unexpected attachments
- Requests to move the conversation to WhatsApp
- Threats that the prize will disappear immediately
A professional appearance does not confirm that a Postcode Lottery prize voucher is real.
5. Compare the Notification With Your Account
A genuine notification should relate to an entry or account that belongs to you.
Check whether the communication includes a plausible:
- Player name
- Playing postcode
- Prize announcement date
- Voucher or redemption code
- Claiming method
- Prize type
Be cautious if the message refers to a postcode you have never played, gives no draw information or claims your address was randomly selected from a public database.
6. Reach the Claiming Portal Through the Main Website
A genuine Lotteryshop prize voucher can be redeemed through the official voucher portal. However, it is safer to reach that portal through the main Postcode Lottery website rather than clicking an unverified email link.
Before entering your Postcode Lottery voucher code:
- Check that the page uses HTTPS.
- Confirm the domain carefully.
- Make sure it is the Lotteryshop voucher service rather than an unrelated website.
- Do not enter online banking passwords, card PINs or one-time security codes.
The official portal asks for a prize-voucher code so the winner can access the available Lotteryshop products.
7. Contact Postcode Lottery Directly
When in doubt, stop the claiming process and contact the organisation independently.
The official Customer Experience freephone number is:
0808 109 8765
The general customer-service email address is: info@postcodelottery.co.uk
Find these details through the official website rather than relying on a telephone number or email address printed in a suspicious message.
Is Your Postcode Lottery Voucher Genuine?
Answer five simple questions to identify common warning signs.
Were you an active Postcode Lottery player?
You normally need an active entry to win a prize.
Genuine Voucher or Scam? Warning-Sign Table
Check More consistent with a genuine voucher Possible scam warning
Lottery participation You actively play using the named postcode You have never entered
Postcode result The win can be checked on the official results page No verifiable result or date is given
Payment No advance payment is requested A tax, fee or release payment is demanded
Claiming route You reach it through the official website The link uses an unfamiliar or misspelt domain
Communication Clear instructions without intimidation Urgency, threats or demands for secrecy
Personal details Only proportionate account verification is requested PINs, passwords or excessive banking information are requested
Independent checks The sender welcomes direct verification The sender discourages you from contacting official support
No single sign proves that a voucher is genuine. Use several checks together before entering a voucher code or providing personal details.
Real-Life Example: Checking a Voucher Email Safely
Sarah is an active Postcode Lottery player. She receives an email saying that her postcode has won a Lotteryshop prize voucher.
The email looks professional and contains a button marked “Redeem Your Prize”. Instead of clicking it immediately, Sarah:
- Opens a new browser window.
- types the official Postcode Lottery website address herself.
- checks the results for her playing postcode.
- confirms that the prize date matches the email.
- Navigates to the official voucher portal.
- contacts Customer Experience using the number shown on the official website when she needs confirmation.
The result and account details match, and no payment is requested. These checks provide reasonable evidence that the Postcode Lottery voucher is genuine.
David receives a different letter. It says his address was randomly selected even though he has never played. It asks him to pay an insurance fee before receiving the prize.
David should not pay. The lack of a genuine entry and the advance-payment request are both strong indicators of a Postcode Lottery prize voucher scam.
How to Claim a Genuine Postcode Lottery Prize Voucher?
Once you have verified the win, locate the voucher code in the official email or letter.
Visit the main Postcode Lottery website and follow its link to the Lotteryshop prize-voucher portal. Enter the code carefully and review the products available.
The official website says Lotteryshop products are subject to availability, so a particular product may no longer be offered when the voucher is redeemed.
Keep the following points in mind:
- Do not post the voucher code publicly.
- Check any claim or expiry date in your own notification.
- Complete the redemption before the stated deadline.
- Keep a copy of the confirmation.
- Contact official support if the voucher code does not work.
Do not assume that the claiming period for an e-Gift Card also applies to a Lotteryshop voucher. They are different prize types and may have different terms.
What Should You Do With a Suspicious Voucher Message?
Do not click links, open attachments, reply to the sender or make a payment.
Take a screenshot or retain the original email, text or letter as evidence. Contact Postcode Lottery through its official website and ask whether the notification is genuine.
Suspicious emails can be forwarded to the National Cyber Security Centre at report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious texts can generally be forwarded free of charge to 7726.
If you have lost money or believe an account has been compromised:
- England, Wales or Northern Ireland: report it through the current Report Fraud service or call 0300 123 2040.
- Scotland: contact Police Scotland by calling 101.
- Contact your bank immediately if payment or banking information was shared.
- Change any reused or exposed passwords.
- Tell your card provider if card details were entered on a suspicious website.
Recent scam alerts have continued to warn about criminals impersonating People’s Postcode Lottery through telephone calls, social media accounts, emails and letters.
Conclusion: Is Your Postcode Lottery Prize Voucher Real?
The answer to “is postcode lottery prize voucher genuine?” is yes: prize vouchers are a legitimate People’s Postcode Lottery non-cash prize.
However, you cannot confirm a particular voucher simply because the message contains the correct name, logo or telephone number. Verify that you were an active player, check the winning postcode independently and use only the official claiming route.
Never pay an advance fee to receive a prize. When anything appears unusual, contact Postcode Lottery directly before entering the voucher code or sharing personal information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are People’s Postcode Lottery prize vouchers genuine?
Yes. Lotteryshop prize vouchers are an official type of non-cash Postcode Lottery prize. Winning players receive a code that can be redeemed against available products. The particular email or letter must still be verified.
Can a Postcode Lottery voucher arrive by email?
Yes. Prize-voucher winners with a registered email address are normally sent an email containing the voucher code when the winning postcodes are announced.
Does Postcode Lottery send prize-voucher letters?
Yes. Winners without an email address registered on their account may receive a letter at their registered home address.
Can I win a voucher if I have never played?
No. Official scam guidance says you must have entered and be a Postcode Lottery player to win. A prize notification sent to a non-player should be treated as suspicious.
Will I be asked to pay a fee to claim the voucher?
A genuine winner should not be required to pay an advance tax, insurance charge, handling fee or prize-release payment.
Where can I redeem a Postcode Lottery prize voucher?
Use the Lotteryshop prize-voucher portal reached through the official Postcode Lottery website. Avoid entering a voucher code on a website linked from an unverified message.
What should I do if my Postcode Lottery voucher code does not work?
Check that every character was entered correctly and review the notification for any deadline. If the code still fails, contact Postcode Lottery through the official freephone number or support page.
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