Lottery & Prize Scam
You've won a prize you never entered — but must pay to claim it
How this scam works
Classic scam: you've "won" a lottery, KBC prize, or lucky draw that you never entered. To claim your prize, you need to pay "processing fees", "taxes", or "verification charges". Once you pay, the scammer disappears — there was never any prize.
These scams often impersonate popular shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) or claim to be from WhatsApp, Facebook, or international lotteries. The prize amounts are always unrealistically high.
Warning signs
- ⚠️You "won" something you never entered
- ⚠️Requires payment to claim prize (processing fee, tax, shipping)
- ⚠️Creates urgency: "Claim within 24 hours"
- ⚠️Claims to be from KBC, WhatsApp lottery, international lottery
- ⚠️Asks for personal details like Aadhaar, PAN, bank account
- ⚠️Uses Gmail or other free email addresses
Real examples
“Congratulations! Your WhatsApp number has won Rs.25,00,000 in Facebook-WhatsApp Lucky Draw 2024! To claim, pay Rs.4,999 processing fee. Contact: lottery.claims@gmail.com”
There is no WhatsApp lottery. Legitimate prizes never require upfront payment. Gmail addresses are not official.
“You are the lucky winner of KBC Season 15! Prize: Rs.35 Lakhs. To claim, send Rs.10,000 registration fee to UPI: kbc.winner@paytm”
KBC does not contact winners via SMS/WhatsApp. No prize requires payment to claim.
What to do
- ✓You cannot win a lottery you didn't enter
- ✓Legitimate prizes never require payment to claim
- ✓KBC does not contact winners via WhatsApp
- ✓Block and ignore — do not respond
- ✓Report to cybercrime.gov.in