Scam alerts

Lottery, KBC and prize messages

You’ve “won” a lottery, a KBC prize or a car. To receive it you only need to pay tax or a processing fee first.

What it looks like

How it works

1. A voice note, poster or fake certificate makes it look official.
2. You pay “GST”, “RBI clearance” or “courier” charges.
3. Every payment leads to another fee. The prize never arrives.

Red flags

• You can’t win a lottery you didn’t enter.
• Real prizes never ask you to pay to receive them.
• Foreign or unknown numbers, and photos of celebrities or officials.

What to do

• Don’t reply or pay anything.
• Block and report the number on Chakshu.
• If you paid, call 1930.