Trick 5- Fake SMS & Lottery Call Scam
- Victims receive bulk SMS or email messages claiming they won a large lottery prize (e.g., ₹25 lakh).
- A scammer posing as an RBI, government official, or lottery agent contacts the victim.
- Fraudsters provide fake legal documents, ID cards, and certificates to make it seem real.
- Victims are asked to pay “RBI clearance fees,” foreign exchange fees, or other charges.
- Scammers stall and delay the process, convincing the victim to pay multiple times.
5. Mumbai Man Loses ₹2.1 Lakh in Lottery Fraud
Steps of the Fraud:
- Lottery Win Notification via SMS – The victim received an SMS and email claiming he had won ₹25 lakh in a lucky draw.
- Scammer Poses as Lottery Official – He was given a contact number of a “lottery officer,” who sent fake documents, ID cards, and legal agreements via WhatsApp to make the scam appear real.
- Demand for Fees – The fraudster demanded multiple payments under various excuses, including processing fees, foreign exchange fees, and RBI clearance charges.
- Repeated Payments & False Promises – The victim transferred ₹2.1 lakh in multiple transactions, each time being told the money was about to be deposited.
- Realization & Police Complaint – When no prize was received, he contacted his bank, which confirmed he had been scammed. He then filed a complaint with the Mumbai Cybercrime Police.