Thiruvananthapuram: State police have issued a warning urging the public to stay alert against online lottery scams. “Fraudsters are reportedly misusing the name, symbol, logo and website design of Kerala Lottery to run bogus online lottery schemes through social media,” police said. They lure people with flashy promotions such as ‘Mega Bumper Dhamaka Offer, Prize of Rs 25 Crore and Kerala Lottery Online Booking’. Clicking these ads often redirects users to WhatsApp groups or fake websites made to resemble the official state lottery platform, complete with govt emblems and logos, said a statement. “To build trust, the scammers publish certain lottery numbers claiming they have high chances of winning. Later, under the pretext of checking results, they ask users to enter their mobile number, after which they send congratulatory messages falsely stating that they have won a prize. The scammers then demand personal details such as name, bank account number, IFSC code and Aadhaar number to release the prize money. They may also show a fake lottery registration letter prepared using govt letterheads and symbols and then ask for payments under headings like registration fee, processing fee, GST, tax clearance and security deposit. Even after receiving money, they often refuse to release any prize and instead continue demanding more,” the statement said. The police have also said that buying or selling Kerala Lottery tickets online is prohibited and has issued a series of don’ts. “Do not trust lottery advertisements or links received through social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, or Telegram, do not book tickets or make payments on fake websites operating in the name of the Kerala Lottery,” it added. The statement said that “If anyone asks for money claiming it is needed as a registration fee, processing fee, GST, tax, or security deposit for a prize you supposedly won, treat it as fraud. Never share bank account details, debit or credit card information, OTPs, UPI PINs, Aadhaar numbers, or similar personal data with strangers.” If you become a victim of such an online scam, immediately contact the cyber helpline at 1930 or report it through the cybercrime reporting portal at www.cybercrime.gov.in, police said.
