Hey! Congratulations! You’ve won a brand-new luxury car just for being an active user of IGIGI Bank! To claim your prize, simply click on the link below and complete the process.
Sounds exciting, right? Now, how many of you would at least check this message or email?
Let’s be honest—almost everyone! The thought of winning something valuable for free is tempting. And that’s exactly what scammers count on.
That link usually takes you to a webpage that looks legitimate and asks for your Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, or even a small “processing fee” to release the prize.
While some people might stop there, did you know that sometimes just clicking on such links can install malware on your device and steal your data?
Lottery scams like these are on the rise, tricking thousands of people into losing their hard-earned money. Let’s break down the most common types of lottery frauds and how you can spot them before it’s too late.
Common Types of Lottery Scams in India
Lottery scams come in various forms, but they all have one goal: to trick you into giving away your money or personal information.
Whether it’s a fake email claiming you’ve won a jackpot, a phone call pressuring you to pay taxes, or a fraudulent cheque that later bounces, scammers use different tactics to appear authentic.
They often create urgency, use official-looking documents, and demand payments. Recognizing these red flags can help you avoid falling victim to these frauds.
Let’s now dig deeper to uncover some of the common lottery scams.
1. Fake Lottery Emails & Messages
You get an email or SMS claiming you’ve won a huge prize in an international lottery. These messages often look official, using well-known logos and names.
However, there is an easily identifiable red flag: you need to pay a small fee or tax to claim your winnings.
Other than this, there are other ways by which you can spot lottery related email frauds in India:
- You never participated in any lottery.
- The sender’s email looks suspicious (e.g., generic Gmail/Yahoo accounts).
- They demand upfront payments before releasing the prize.
2. Fake Phone Calls from “Lottery Officials”
A caller claims to be from a well-known lottery company and tells you that you’ve won big.
They pressure you to act fast or risk losing the prize. Some even ask for your bank details, claiming they’ll “deposit” the money directly.
Now, your little alertness can protect you from the trap:
- Callers ask for sensitive details like bank information or OTPs.
- They insist on secrecy and rush you to make payments.
- They ask for payments through untraceable methods like gift cards, UPI, or wire transfers.
3. Lottery Cheque Fraud
Scammers send a fake cheque as your “prize money” and ask you to deposit it. But before processing the cheque, they ask you to pay a portion of the money as processing fees.
After making the payment, however, when you deposited the cheque, it bounced, leaving you at a loss.
Now, think twice before you act to protect yourself from getting into the trap:
- The cheque looks suspicious or has errors in printing.
- The sender urges you to deposit it quickly.
4. Scratch Scams
Scammers generally target people by sending emails containing glossy brochures and scratch cards, one of which contains a prize for the winner. To make it look more authentic, they mention second and third prices too.
Now, in most cases, the scammer declares you as a winner by offering high-value prize money or gifts.
And here is the catch: To claim the prize, you need to deposit some fees or GST.
Instead of following instructions blindly, it is important to:
- Be a little alert and check the source.
- Make sure that you had applied for any such lottery or gift scheme
- Not to give any kind of bank or personal details.
4. Smartphone Gift Scam
Scammers impersonate themselves to be bank or other financial institution executive and offer smartphones as gift in return of maintaining good credit score.
They then deliver the phone to your address in a branded box with a logo and name that looks reliable and authentic.
You start using the phone without realizing that it contains malware that steals and shares all your personal and sensitive information with the scammer.
By the time you realize the scam, your bank account is nearly emptied.
To avoid such scams:
- It is always good to verify such calls and offers from your bank.
- Avoid receiving unexpected gifts.
- Check and reset the phone before using it.
Red Flags to Identify Lottery Scams
No doubt, receiving calls and messages offering you high-value gifts and prize money makes you feel over-excited, and most of the time, you act without thinking.
But at the same time, it is important to stay a little alert to prevent any type of emotional distress in the future.
Here are some of the red flags that help you identify such scams in the first place, preventing you from falling into the trap.
1. You Never Bought or Applied for Any Lottery
Have you ever won a trophy without participating in the event?
Nope, right?
So, ask yourself—why are you being offered a prize for a lottery you never entered? This is the biggest red flag to watch for before getting excited about winning an unexpected prize and giving away your data and information to the scammer.
2. Demand of Advance Money to Claim Prize
Now, if we talk about a lottery from a genuine platform, then on winning, those platforms never ask you to pay upfront fees. In case there are taxes or some other charges, they deduct it automatically from your prize money and pay the rest to you.
Hence, in case, the lottery prize money provider if ask you to pay any kind of upfront charges or fees, stay away, it’s a scam.
3. Emails Contain Generic Information
If the lottery provider is a genuine source, then it must have your complete information, including your name, email address, etc. In case you receive an email claiming to offer you prize money or gifts, check if it addresses you by your name.
In case the mail contains generic information like Dear Ma’am/Sir, then it gives you the biggest clue of fraud and without any second thought just delete that mail and move on.
4. Creates a False Sense of Urgency
A real lottery provider will wait for your response to claim a prize or may provide a date till the offer is valid. In all, they leave a decision upon you.
In contrast, scammers create urgency, often using countdown timers or pressure tactics to make you act quickly. If you feel rushed to claim a ‘prize,’ it’s likely a scam—stay alert!
Real-Life Cases of Lottery Scams in India
Even after a lot of awareness, people are getting trapped in lottery frauds, which is revealed by the number of reported cases in India.
In January 2024, the Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau reported 15 lottery fraud cases, with victims collectively losing crores of rupees. Fraudsters lured individuals with promises of prizes from e-commerce platforms, leading to significant financial losses.
In February 2025, a 67-year-old individual in Hyderabad fell victim to an Instagram lottery scam, losing ₹2 lakh. This incident underscores the ongoing threat of such frauds.
Here is another case study where a retired teacher lost around ₹3 lakh in one such scam.
Case Study: A Retired Teacher Lost ₹3 Lakh in a Lottery Scam
Mrs. Sharma, a retired teacher from Mumbai, got a call saying she had won ₹50 lakh.
The caller, posing as a government official, however, asked for a ₹25,000 processing fee. Excited, she transferred the money.
But the story didn’t end there. Over months, she was asked to pay more in “taxes” and ended up losing ₹3 lakh.
She finally realized the scam and reported it, but by then, the fraudsters had vanished.
Her story is a reminder to always verify lottery claims before making any payments.
How to Protect Yourself?
Scammers are using smarter ways to exploit different platforms and steal your money. But a little consciousness can protect you from falling into the trap.
- Verify Before You Believe
- Never Pay to Claim Winnings
- Be Wary of Unsolicited Messages
- Avoid Sharing Personal Details
- Report the Scam
Conclusion
Lottery scams prey on people’s hopes of getting rich quickly.
Staying alert and informed can help you and your loved ones avoid these deceptive traps.
Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Stay active and spread awareness among your family members and friends to protect them too from getting trapped in such scams.
