Prize Winning / Lucky Draw Scam
Modified on Mon, 21 Jul at 12:40 PM
Not every “Congratulations, you’ve won!” message is good news — sometimes, it’s a scam in disguise.
Prize-winning or lucky draw scams are fraudulent schemes designed to trick individuals into believing they have won a large cash prize, luxury item, or exclusive giveaway. These scams often come with a catch: to claim the prize, the "winner" must provide personal information or pay a fee—such as taxes, processing charges, or shipping costs. In reality, there is no prize, and the consequences can be far more damaging than just losing money.
How Prize-Winning or Lucky Draw Scam works?
- You may receive a message via email, text, or social media saying you’ve won a prize in a contest or giveaway you never joined.
- Scammers often pretend to be trusted brands, celebrities, or influencers and post fake lucky draw events on social media to make the scam look real.
- They use eye-catching phrases like “Comment ‘WIN’ to claim your prize!” or “You’re today’s lucky winner!” to attract attention and go viral.
- Once you like or comment, the scammer will message you directly, claiming you’ve officially won.
- To “claim” your prize, you may be asked to pay fees for taxes, shipping, or processing.
- You might also be told to click a suspicious link and enter your personal or banking details.
- They may pressure you to act now or you’ll lose your prize, saying things like “The gift is a limited offer” or “Confirm now or we’ll give it to someone else”.
Things to keep in mind:
- Be Wary of “Too Good to Be True” Wins: If you never joined a contest or lucky draw, you didn’t win. Scammers use attractive prizes to lure victims. Be cautious of messages that appear out of the blue.
- Always Verify First: Don’t trust the contact details provided in the message. Visit the official website or contact the real company directly to confirm any prize claims.
- Never Pay to Claim a Prize: You should never have to pay to win. If you're asked to pay fees or boost your chances by paying—it's a scam.
- Refuse pressure to act immediately: Don't rush into decision. Take your time, review the message and verify everything before responding.
- Protect Your Personal and Financial Info: Legitimate contests will never ask for sensitive details like your bank account, ID number, credit card, or OTP. Don’t share them.
- Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: Scam messages often include harmful links that steal your information or infect your device. Don’t click—just delete.
- Use Trusted Security Software: Protect your devices with reliable antivirus and anti-malware software. Keep it updated and enable automatic protection.
To report this issue, please get in touch with us.
Rest assured that CelcomDigi is actively taking measures to ensure our customers do not fall prey to such scams.
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