Kerala Police issues notices to Google and Meta over fake lottery ads

Kerala Police have taken action against fake lottery scams by issuing notices to tech giants Google and Meta, directing them to remove fraudulent content linked to these schemes.

The State Police Media Centre (SPMC) announced on Wednesday that Google has been asked to take down apps from its Play Store that are selling fake lotteries under the guise of being state-run. Similarly, Meta, which owns platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has been asked to remove advertisements promoting these fake lotteries.

The police's move comes after cyber patrols uncovered a widespread scam involving 60 fake lottery apps, 25 fraudulent Facebook profiles, and 20 scam websites. The SPMC emphasized that strict legal action will be pursued against those responsible for these fraudulent activities.

According to the police, fake advertisements for lotteries named "Kerala Megamillion Lottery" and "Kerala Summer Season Dhamaka" have been circulating on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram. These ads falsely claim that state-run lotteries can be purchased online.

Victims of the scam receive messages stating that the Kerala government has launched an online lottery, where spending Rs 40 could lead to winnings of up to Rs 12 crore. After transferring Rs 40 to the specified number, victims receive an image of a fake lottery ticket via WhatsApp. When the supposed draw takes place, they are sent fabricated results indicating that they have won a prize of Rs 5 lakh.

The scam escalates when someone posing as a government official contacts the victim, requesting further payments for GST and stamp duty to release the prize money. Once the victim transfers this money, they are asked for additional funds under the pretence that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is holding the prize. The fraudsters even provide fake documents and videos to make the process appear legitimate.

Kerala Police have warned the public to be vigilant against such online lottery scams and urged anyone suspecting financial fraud to immediately contact the helpline at 1930.