Introduction
What is a Lottery Scam?
International Scams
Local Scams

INTRODUCTION

Singapore Pools recognizes that our bettors are our most valued customers. Lottery Scam Awareness is important to educate bettors on how to protect themselves from con artists and scams.

The information below highlights some of the more popular tricks and ploys used by scam artists. There are some tips and advice as well as contact information should you come across such scams.

Please share this information with anyone you think may be vulnerable to such ploys.

Remember, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

 

WHAT IS A LOTTERY SCAM?

Cheating money from a victim by bluffing him that he has won a lottery.

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INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY SCAMS

Following are some examples of international lottery scams:

Letter Fraud - Trickster notifies you by snail mail that you have won a major lottery. To claim your prize, you must first pay taxes & administrative fees, which could amount to thousands. Once you part with your money, you will not hear from them again, unless it is for another scam.

E-mail Fraud - Trickster notifies you by e-mail that you have won a major lottery. To claim your prize, you must first pay taxes & administrative fees, which could amount to thousands. Once you part with your money, you will not hear from them again, unless it is for another scam.

Click here for an example of an email scam.

SMS Scam - Conman SMSes you a winning notification, saying that your hand phone number was picked as the winning numbers in a Sweepstake Lottery. If you respond, you will be asked for up-front payments before you can claim your prize.

HOW TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM OF INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY SCAMS

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is the lottery company fictional? Run a check at www.fraudwatchinternational.com
  • Do you recall buying a lottery ticket from that company or that country?
  • Are you being asked to send money before collecting your prize?
  • Are you being asked for personal details like bank account or credit card numbers?
  • Are you being urged to keep the matter confidential?

If you have answered ‘YES’ to most of the questions, chances are, it is a scam.

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LOCAL LOTTERY SCAMS

"Pigeon Drop" Scam - Conman on the street offers to sell you a tampered or counterfeit "winning" ticket at a discount. He tells a fictitious story about why he can't claim. Once you part with your cash, you will find that the winning ticket is a fraud.

HOW TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM OF A LOCAL LOTTERY SCAM?

Singapore Pools is the only legal lottery operator in Singapore. We offer Singapore Sweep, 4-D, Toto and Sports Bets. We honour all valid winning tickets. Prize payments will be made to anyone over 18 years of age.

DO NOT:
 
  • Buy a lottery game not offered by Singapore Pools
  • Buy a non-Singapore Pools lottery ticket when in Singapore 
  • Buy a winning ticket after a draw at a discount no matter how convincing the story is.
  • Buy tickets at a promotional price. They are likely to be tempered or fake.

If you receive a letter/email/sms that purports to be from Singapore Pools, please call us at 6216 8168 for verification.
 
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF A LOTTERY SCAM:

If you become, or suspect that you have become, a victim of a lottery-related crime, please contact:
Commercial Affairs Department at 1800-325 0000, or make a report at at 391 New Bridge Road, #06-701 Police Cantonment Complex Block D, Singapore 088762. You may also contact any police station in Singapore.

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