Scam alert: ICICI Bank issues important warning for this scam: What is it, how it works and tips to stay protected

Lottery scam | This is a representational image generated using AI

ICICI Bank has issued a warning against messages that claim recipients have won a lottery, urging people not to fall for such frauds. The bank explained that messages stating “Congratulations! You have won a lottery!!” often come from unknown numbers and are a trick to extract banking and personal details from unsuspecting people.

This kind of fraud, called a lottery scam, involves fraudsters sending messages or phone calls to individuals, stating that they have won a large sum of money in a lottery or a competition. The messages typically ask recipients to submit their banking details, account number, or a One-Time Password (OTP) to “claim their prize.” The fraudsters then use this information to withdraw funds from the victim’s bank account or commit other financial fraud.

Lottery scam

Scammers typically send messages or phone calls from unknown numbers, making it seem as if the recipient has gotten rich overnight by participating in a lottery or a draw. To release the supposed “prize money,” the fraudsters say the recipient must pay a processing fee or share their bank details. Once the fraudsters have these details, they withdraw funds from the victim’s account, sometimes draining it completely.

ICICI Bank has called on all its customers to be vigilant and stay protected from such frauds. The bank stressed that it will never call or text you to ask for banking details in order to release a prize. It advised people not to respond to messages from unknown numbers and not to share their account or debit card details, PIN, or OTP with anyone.

To stay vigilant, ICICI Bank suggested ignoring messages that seem too good to be true, verifying the sender’s credentials, and contacting their bank directly if in doubt. Furthermore, the bank encouraged people to report fraud immediately by dialling 1930 (Cyber Crime Helpline) or filing a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.