KBC and lottery scams: you can’t win a prize you never entered
Messages, voice notes or calls saying your number won ₹25 lakh in a KBC, Jio or WhatsApp lucky draw are scams. Victims are asked to pay a tax, GST or processing fee to release the prize, often to a “Rana Pratap Singh” on a +92 or other foreign number, and then more fees follow. No genuine contest charges winners first.
Ignore the message, block the number and report it on Chakshu.
Last updated: Reviewed by IndiaDigital editorsSources
How does this scam work?
- A WhatsApp message with a KBC logo, an image of the host and a “lottery number”.
- You are told to call a “lottery manager” to claim ₹25 lakh.
- You must first pay registration, tax or GST.
- After each payment comes a new fee, until you stop.
Real-style examples
Numbers and links are changed. The red flags are marked by the same engine that runs in the Scam Checker.
Congratulations! Your mobile number has won Rs 25 lakh in KBC lucky draw. To claim, pay processing fee of Rs 12,500 and contact Rana Pratap Singh +92 300 1234567
- Lottery, KBC or prize win
- Foreign number (+92)
- Asks for a fee first
வாழ்த்துக்கள்! நீங்கள் லாட்டரி பரிசு ₹25,00,000 வென்றுள்ளீர்கள். உடனடியாக அழைக்கவும் 9090909090
- Lottery, KBC or prize win
- Pressure plus a request
- Rushes you
Red flags: how to spot it
- A prize you never entered
- Any fee, tax or GST before you receive it
- Foreign numbers, especially +92
- Pressure to claim today
How to check if it is real
- Did you enter this contest? If not, you can’t have won.
- Genuine prizes deduct tax from the winnings; they don’t ask you to pay first.
What to do if you get one
- Block and report on Chakshu.
- If you paid, call 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in.
Remember: You cannot win a lottery you never entered, and real prizes never ask you to pay first.
Lost money? What to do in the first hour
- Call 1930 now. The National Cyber Crime Helpline. The first hour matters most: a quick report lets banks try to hold the money before it moves on.
- File the complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. Add the transaction ID or UTR, amount, time, the UPI ID or account the money went to, and screenshots. Note your complaint number.
- Tell your bank and freeze cards and UPI. Call the number on your card or in the bank app. Reporting within 3 working days can limit your liability under RBI rules.
- Keep the evidence, beware “recovery agents”. Don’t delete chats. Anyone who charges a fee to get your money back is running a second scam.
Frequently asked questions
Is the KBC WhatsApp lottery real?
No. There is no KBC lottery on WhatsApp. These messages are fraud.
Related scams
Sources
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (1930) · Sanchar Saathi: Chakshu, report suspected fraud communication · RBI: limiting customer liability in unauthorised electronic banking transactions