Scam

 LOTTERY SCAM

Scratch-and-win scam

In a scratch-and-win scam, you might be approached by someone while shopping in Johor Bahru and invited to participate in a simple scratch-and-win promotion. You will then “win” a prize, but the scammer would tell you to follow them to their main office. Once there, you will have to pay administration charges or tax on your prize, which doesn't exist. You might even be asked to pay more money to join a grand draw with prizes such as cars or holidays, and the scammer would accompany you to an ATM in Singapore to collect money from you. Once they take your money, they say the prize is delayed and ask you to return another time.

Lottery/lucky draw scam

In a lottery/lucky draw scam, you receive a phone call or SMS notifying you that you have won a prize in a lucky draw – sometimes even a car or a condominium overseas. To claim the prize, you have to pay administrative fees or taxes; or to convert the prize into cash, you must make a payment to a foreign bank account. Or, in another type of lucky draw scam, you get a call to take part in a survey, which qualifies you to entry into a lucky draw. You then subsequently “win” the draw, but once again, have to pay administration fees to claim the prize.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

  • Correspondence from out of the blue stating you have won a prize that you are not expecting are likely to be an invitation for you to be scammed
  • If the email or letter or text message state that you simply need to pay a small “administration fee” to unlock your prize, this is likely to be a scam
  • Be especially wary if you are told that you have been randomly selected to win

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

  • Never make an up-front payment in order to claim a prize, as winning a draw should not require advance payment
  • Never take up an offer to be ferried back to Singapore to withdraw money for someone else in order to claim a prize
  • Ignore such calls and correspondences, especially if you have not entered any lucky draw
  • Do not give in to greed; approach all unexpected 'windfalls' with scepticism
  • Be wary of get-rich-quick offers – if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is
  • Call the Police at '999' immediately to report the case

Source: Source: Scam Alert Singapore