# MSG-SWEEPSTAKES-DECEPTIVE — No prize or winner claims without a genuine promotion

> Campaign content must not promote prize, winner, or sweepstakes claims not backed by a real promotion.

- **Rule ID:** MSG-SWEEPSTAKES-DECEPTIVE
- **Layer:** Message content (`MESSAGE_CONTENT`)
- **Checks:** `campaign.description + campaign.sample[] + campaign.message_flow`
- **Severity:** BLOCKING — Breaking this rule gets the submission rejected outright.
- **When it bites:** Gates approval — get this wrong and registration is refused
- **How it is detected:** AI judgement over the submitted form
- **Fix type:** Hard stop — not remediable, resubmission will not help
- **Required by:** Twilio, TCR, T-Mobile, AT&T, CTIA
- **Applies:** Applies to every 10DLC registration.
- **Canonical URL:** https://ekas.io/rules/10dlc/message-content/msg-sweepstakes-deceptive/

## Why this rule exists

A "you have won" message with no underlying promotion is straightforward deception and is filtered as fraud rather than as marketing. Genuine sweepstakes are registrable under the sweepstakes use case with the required official rules.

## How to fix it

Remove prize claims unless a real promotion exists with published official rules. Where it does, register under the sweepstakes use case and link the rules from the message.