Prize scam guide
Lottery and prize scam
Prize scams announce fake winnings and ask for registration, GST, processing, courier, or account activation fees. Real prizes do not require secret advance transfers to unknown accounts.
Risk signal
Prize bait
Severity
medium
Group
Prize
Common identifiers
Add identifiers that can be matched safely across reports, profiles, payments, and evidence without exposing unnecessary private data.
Phone number
Use the exact phone number shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
WhatsApp message
Use the exact whatsapp message shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Bank account
Use the exact bank account shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Prize letter
Use the exact prize letter shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Evidence to preserve
Keep proof in original form where possible. Screenshots help, but transaction IDs, URLs, timestamps, and chat context make moderation stronger.
Prize message
Capture prize message with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Fake certificate
Capture fake certificate with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Payment demand
Capture payment demand with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Caller details
Capture caller details with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
First response
These steps reduce further loss and keep your report useful for review, banking escalation, platform reporting, and official complaints.
Do not pay release fees
Do this early: do not pay release fees helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Verify through official source
Do this early: verify through official source helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Report repeated contact
Do this early: report repeated contact helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Urgent money loss
If money was recently transferred, call 1930 first and raise a bank or payment-app dispute. Speed matters for fund-freeze attempts.
Privacy boundary
Do not upload OTPs, passwords, full card numbers, full Aadhaar, private documents, or unrelated intimate media. Use masked, relevant evidence whenever possible.
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