Who doesn’t like the idea of winning a lottery? A few lakhs—or even crores—just for having a lucky number?
Sounds like a dream! Unfortunately, scammers have turned this dream into a nightmare for many innocent people in India.
In this blog, we’ll break down how these lottery scams work, share real-life case studies, and, most importantly, show you how you can avoid falling for them.
How to Recognize Lottery Scams?
Lottery scams in India typically follow a similar pattern. Here’s how they unfold:
1. The ‘Lucky Winner’ Message
Scammers send SMS, WhatsApp messages, emails, or even letters claiming you’ve won a huge lottery prize using the name of renowned shows or organizations like:
- KBC Lottery Scam – A fake lottery using the name of the popular show Kaun Banega Crorepati.
- Fake International Lotteries – Messages claiming you’ve won a UK or Dubai lottery.
- Government Lottery Fraud – Using names like “RBI lottery” or “Reserve Bank Fund Release.”
2. Fake Confirmation Calls
Once you respond to the message, a scammer posing as a lottery official will call to ‘confirm’ your win.
They will sound very professional, sometimes even using fake ID cards or documents over WhatsApp.
3. Advance Payment Scam
Once you get into the trap and start believing the calls and messages, they lay their trap to catch you.
You might receive another message or call that asks you to pay ‘processing fees,’ ‘GST,’ ‘customs duty,’ or ‘clearance charges’ to claim your winnings.
The scammer will insist that these are legal requirements by RBI or government authorities.
4. The Never-Ending Fees
Even if you pay the initial amount, more fees follow: bank account verification, RBI approval, and security deposits.
By the time the victim realizes it’s a scam, they may have lost thousands or even lakhs of rupees.
5. Vanishing Act
Once they’ve extracted enough money, the scammers disappear.
They block the victim’s number and sometimes even threaten legal action if the victim gets suspicious.
How Lottery Scams Work in India- Real Life Case Studies
Based on the above information, many cases are reported in a year. Here are some of the case studies that give you an idea of how do lottery scams work.
Case Study 1: The KBC WhatsApp Lottery Scam
In 2022, a Delhi-based businessman received a WhatsApp message claiming he won Rs. 25 lakh in a KBC lottery.
The message came with a picture of Amitabh Bachchan (the show’s host) and a fake RBI letter. The scammer, posing as an RBI official, asked for Rs. 75,000 as processing fees.
The businessman paid the amount, only to be asked for more in the name of “income tax clearance.”
Realizing something was off, he approached the cybercrime police, who confirmed it was a scam. Luckily, he reported the fraud before losing more money.
Case Study 2: Kerala Lottery Fraud
A retired teacher in Tamil Nadu received a call saying he had won Rs. 1 crore in the Kerala State Lottery.
The scammer convinced him to transfer Rs. 2 lakh as “tax and verification charges.”
Days later, he was asked for another Rs. 5 lakh for “legal formalities.”
By the time his family intervened, he had already lost Rs. 3 lakh. The scammer’s number was traced to Jharkhand, but recovering the money was impossible.
How to Avoid a Lottery Scam?
Here are some red flags that indicate a lottery message and help you to avoid it.
- You never bought a lottery ticket – If you didn’t enter, how could you win?
- It asks for advance payment – No legitimate lottery asks winners to pay fees upfront.
- The message comes via SMS or WhatsApp – Official lotteries contact winners through registered government channels.
- Poor grammar & unofficial email IDs – Scammers often use personal email addresses (like Gmail, Yahoo) instead of official ones.
- Pressure tactics & threats – If they rush you to pay or threaten you with legal action, it’s a scam.
Conclusion
Lottery scams are not just about losing money; they shatter people’s trust and confidence.
While authorities are taking action, awareness is the best defense. Next time you receive a ‘congratulations’ message for a lottery you never entered, remember—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
In case you encountered any of such message or call, block the number and know where to report lottery scams to protect yourself.
Stay safe, and stay informed!
