A call or WhatsApp message tells you that you have won ₹25 lakh in KBC, a government lucky draw, or an Airtel/Jio lottery. To claim your prize, you need to pay a small “processing fee”. There is no prize — only fees that multiply endlessly until you stop paying.
What Is This Scam?
The advance-fee fraud — also called the 419 scam — in India commonly uses the Kaun Banega Crorepati brand, fake government lottery schemes, or telecom company “winner” notifications. Victims are asked to pay progressively larger “release fees”, “tax clearances”, or “insurance charges” to unlock their non-existent prize. Every payment is followed by another demand until the victim runs out of money or realises the truth.
How It Works
- 1Victim receives a WhatsApp message or phone call claiming they have won a lottery selected using their phone number.
- 2Scammer asks for personal details such as name, address, and Aadhaar number to “register the win”.
- 3A small processing fee of ₹500 to ₹2,000 is requested to initiate the prize release.
- 4After payment, additional charges appear — tax clearance, insurance deposit, RBI approval fees.
- 5Payments keep multiplying until the victim realises there is no prize and stops responding.
⚠ Red Flags to Watch For
- You never entered the lottery or competition they claim you won
- Prize notifications arrive via WhatsApp or unknown calls — not official postal letters
- Requests for upfront payments before the prize can be released
- Fake KBC or government letterheads shared as images in WhatsApp messages
- Caller claims to be from Sony TV, a government treasury department, or the RBI
What to Do If You Are Targeted
Do not pay anything — KBC and government lotteries do not notify winners via WhatsApp or random phone calls. Block the number immediately and report it on the TRAI DND app or Sanchar Saathi portal. If you have already paid, file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in and call 1930 as quickly as possible. You can also report the fraud to the National Consumer Helpline by calling 1915.
✅ Stay Safe Checklist
- No legitimate lottery ever requires you to pay a fee to claim your prize
- KBC only contacts winners through official Sony TV channels — never WhatsApp or phone calls
- Ignore all lottery winner messages from unknown or unverified numbers
- Report suspicious numbers to TRAI Sanchar Saathi at sancharsaathi.gov.in
- Warn elderly family members who may be more vulnerable to this type of scam