Singapore Lottery Scam

Scratch and Win Scam

This is a variant of a Lottery Scam. In the case of a Scratch and Win scam, victims are usually approached while shopping in Johor Bahru and invited to participate in a simple Scratch and Win promotion. Once they scratch the cards, they are told that they have won high-value prizes. The victims would be required to collect the prizes from the scammers’ main office. At the office, victims are asked to pay administration charges or taxes in order to receive the prizes. They are then asked to pay more money in order to join a grand draw with the promise of prizes like a luxury car or holiday. Because the amount of money required is typically high, the scammers accompany victims to an ATM in Singapore where they can withdraw the money. Once the scammers receive the money, they might say that the prizes are delayed and tell the victims to return another time. In reality, the prizes do not exist.

To avoid becoming a victim of this scam:

Never make payments for tax, administration charges or deposits for lucky draw prizes
Never take up an offer to be ferried back to Singapore to withdraw cash in order to claim a prize
Be wary of get-rich-quick offers. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam
Lottery/Lucky Draw Scam

Victims receive SMS or phone call notifying them that they have won a lottery or lucky draw. To claim the winnings, they must make an upfront payment, usually for “tax” or “administrative fees”. In some cases, victims are told that they have won a valuable asset such as a car or condominium overseas. In order to convert the asset into cash, they must make a payment first, usually to a foreign bank account.

In another variation of this scam, victims receive phone call to take part in a survey which entitles them to participate in a lucky draw. Subsequently, victims receive a second phone call from the same caller to notify them of their winnings. Similarly, victims are asked to make upfront payments to claim their winnings.

To avoid becoming part of a scam:

Do not make any payments in order to claim prize money. Winning a draw should not require advance payments
Ignore the notification, especially when you have not purchased any lottery tickets or participated in a draw
Call the Police immediately at ‘999’ to report the case
Scratch and Win Scam

This is a variant of a Lottery Scam. In the case of a Scratch and Win scam, victims are usually approached while shopping in Johor Bahru and invited to participate in a simple Scratch and Win promotion. Once they scratch the cards, they are told that they have won high-value prizes. The victims would be required to collect the prizes from the scammers’ main office. At the office, victims are asked to pay administration charges or taxes in order to receive the prizes. They are then asked to pay more money in order to join a grand draw with the promise of prizes like a luxury car or holiday. Because the amount of money required is typically high, the scammers accompany victims to an ATM in Singapore where they can withdraw the money. Once the scammers receive the money, they might say that the prizes are delayed and tell the victims to return another time. In reality, the prizes do not exist.

To avoid becoming a victim of this scam:

Never make payments for tax, administration charges or deposits for lucky draw prizes
Never take up an offer to be ferried back to Singapore to withdraw cash in order to claim a prize
Be wary of get-rich-quick offers. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam
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