Kerala Police To Crack Down On ‘Online Lottery Scams’, Issues Notice To Google & Meta

In a significant move to combat the growing menace of fake online lotteries, Kerala police have issued a notice to Google, demanding the removal of fraudulent lottery apps from its Play Store. A similar notice has also been sent to Meta, requesting the removal of advertisements promoting these fake lotteries on social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, according to a release by the State Police Media Centre (SPMC) on Wednesday.

The police’s action comes after extensive cyber patrolling revealed the scale of the scam, uncovering 60 fake lottery apps, 25 fraudulent Facebook profiles, and 20 websites involved in deceiving the public. The SPMC emphasized that stringent legal action would be taken against those responsible for these fraudulent activities.

Detailing the nature of the scam, police explained that fake advertisements under the names “Kerala Megamillion Lottery” and “Kerala Summer Season Dhamaka” have been circulating on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram. These ads falsely claim that the Kerala government has launched an online lottery, luring victims with promises of winning up to Rs 12 crore by spending just Rs 40.

Once a person sends the money to the number provided, they receive an image of a fake lottery ticket via WhatsApp. After the supposed draw, victims are sent manipulated results indicating they have won a substantial prize, often around Rs 5 lakh. The scam escalates when someone posing as a government representative contacts the victim, asking them to transfer additional funds to cover ‘GST’ and ‘stamp duty’ to claim their winnings.

The fraudsters further exploit their victims by demanding more money, claiming that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is holding the prize. To make the scam appear legitimate, victims are provided with fabricated documents and videos at every stage.

In response to this widespread fraud, the Kerala police have urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to such scams. They have advised anyone who suspects they are being targeted by financial fraud to immediately contact the helpline number 1930.

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