• Victims receive calls, WhatsApp messages, or emails claiming they won a prize (cash, cars, gadgets) from Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm, etc.
• Scammers send forged documents with official-looking logos, stamps, and signatures.
• Caller ID spoofing makes it appear as if the call is from a genuine company number.
• Victims are asked to pay GST, processing fees, or verification charges to claim the prize.
• Fraudsters keep increasing the payment demands until the victim realizes the scam.

1. Hyderabad Lottery Scam (January 2024)

Steps of the Fraud:

1. Fake Lottery Notifications – Victims received phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and emails claiming they had won prizes like a car or ₹10 lakh in cash from leading e-commerce platforms. Scammers often impersonated brands like Amazon, Flipkart, or Paytm.
2. Trust Building – Fraudsters sent forged official documents with company logos, signatures, and legal stamps to make the lottery seem legitimate. They also used caller ID spoofing to make it appear as if they were calling from official numbers.
3. Demand for Processing Fees – The victims were asked to pay GST, registration charges, and other “processing fees” before their prize could be released. The amounts were often small at first but kept increasing over time.
4. Continuous Payments & Psychological Manipulation – The scammers convinced victims to keep paying by claiming the amount was almost ready to be transferred but needed one last payment. They used emotional tactics, saying the money would be “lost” if not claimed immediately.
5. Realization & Investigation – After losing significant sums, victims approached the Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau (TSCSB), which launched an investigation, froze ₹36 lakh in fraudulent transactions, and refunded some victims.