Trick 4- Fake Online Lottery Websites & Apps
- Fraudsters create fake websites and mobile apps that look identical to official state lottery websites.
- Victims are targeted through Google & Facebook ads, leading them to scam websites.
- People buy lottery tickets via UPI payments or direct bank transfers but never receive any winnings.
- Some victims receive fake winning messages and are asked to pay processing fees to claim their prize.
- Authorities track, shut down fake websites & apps, but new ones keep appearing.
4. Kerala Fake Online Lottery Scam (August 2024)
Steps of the Fraud:
- Creation of Fake Lottery Apps & Websites – Scammers built mobile apps and websites mimicking the Kerala State Lottery, using similar names, colors, and designs to fool users.
- Promotion on Google & Facebook – The fraudsters paid for ads on Google and Facebook, targeting people searching for lottery tickets online. Some ads falsely claimed the government had moved to online lottery sales.
- Selling Fake Lottery Tickets – Users paid ₹500 per ticket through UPI or bank transfers, thinking they were buying real Kerala State Lottery tickets.
- False Jackpot Messages – Some victims were sent fake winning notifications, followed by requests to pay taxes and legal fees to claim their prizes.
- Police Crackdown & App Bans – The Kerala Police identified 60 fraudulent lottery apps and 25 fake Facebook profiles involved in the scam. They requested Google and Meta to remove them, preventing further fraud.