How to Avoid Lottery Frauds in India

29 May 2024
4 min read
How to Avoid Lottery Frauds in India
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Clicking on anonymous links could cost you a fortune. Online fraud is on the rise, and anyone could fall victim to these scams. Among various schemes, lottery scams stand out as among the most appealing. These scams prey on your desire to win big money fast, hoping to trap the unsuspecting, naive or those desperate for a stroke of luck. 

Read this blog to understand how to protect yourself from lottery fraud in India.

3 Recent Cases of Lottery Fraud in India

The following are some of the recent lottery fraud cases in India:

  • Case 1

As per recent news, a 45-year-old woman from Bengaluru got tricked by a smart lottery scam. She lost over ₹18 lakh in three months. It all started when she received a letter with a scratch card claiming she won 15.51 lakh.

Excited, she contacted the number on the letter, and the scammers asked for her personal documents. They lied about lottery laws, saying she needed to pay a 30% tax to claim her prize. She ended up transferring 18,40,168 to them. The scammers kept tricking her with fake stories until they vanished. She reported the scam to cybercrime authorities.

  • Case 2

Another report of 2024 says fraudsters conned a 50-year-old goldsmith from Chickpet, Karnataka, out of ₹74,000 by falsely claiming his online Kerala lottery ticket won ₹14.7 lakh. They persuaded him to send money for various charges.

Realising he was being scammed when they demanded more money, SK Gopinath reported the incident to the police.

  • Case 3

In 2023, a woman from Kerala named Sobha Menon fell victim to a lottery scam in Ranchi and lost 1 crore. She was tricked into believing she had won a big prize. To claim it, she made 263 transfers towards various fees and taxes.

Four cyber criminals, upon arrest, admitted to using fake documents to open bank accounts in different states. They were transferring 70 lakh to 75 lakh each month through these accounts.

How to Identify Lottery Frauds in India

Here are some of the ways in which you can detect lottery frauds in India:

  • Unsolicited Messages

Scammers often contact people out of the blue, even if they have not entered any lottery, to trick them into believing that they have won a prize.

  • Payment of Fees in Advance

Fraudsters typically demand advance payments saying that it would help them transfer the winnings, thus luring the victim through their excitement and trust.

  • Fake Websites

To add a sense of legitimacy, scammers create phoney websites to deceive victims who seek further validation. Authorised lottery websites usually prove their legitimacy.

  • Asking Personal Details

Like other scams, lottery fraudsters try to extract personal and financial details, such as passwords or bank details, which authorised lottery websites never require.

  • Check Grammatical Errors

You must thoroughly check for spelling and grammatical errors to detect lottery scams. 

Different Ways to Avoid Lottery Scams in India

The following are the different ways to avoid different lottery scams in India:

  • Never Respond

Ignoring messages or calls about fake lottery wins is a smart move to avoid falling into the trap.

  • Verify Source 

Take time to research the organisation supposedly running the lottery and ask probing questions to anyone reaching out with offers.

  • Maintain Confidentiality 

Never share sensitive personal details as scammers often request such information. Be cautious, as reputable organisations do not ask for such data.

  • Stay Sceptical

It is essential to approach any unexpected windfalls with scepticism, as genuine lottery wins typically require participation.

  • Avoid Payment Requests

Refrain from paying any fees to claim supposed winnings; legitimate lotteries do not ask for money upfront.

  • Recognise Urgency Tactics

Be wary of urgent demands for payment from scammers; they often pressure victims to act quickly, aiming to exploit their sense of urgency.

The Bottom Line

Unfortunately, lottery fraud cases have become common nowadays.

By realising the lottery fraud scams beforehand and implementing the above-mentioned precautionary steps, you can safeguard your personal and financial details. Furthermore, if you find anything suspicious, contact the respective authorities as soon as possible and remain safe from such scams.

You may also be interested to know

1.

Cashback Scams In India: How To Stay Safe?

2.

How to Stay Safe from Money Doubling Scams

3.

Best Ways to Spot Personal Loan Scams

4.

What is SMS Spoofing and How to Prevent it

5.

How to Avoid Personal Loan Scams and Frauds
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