Scratch Card Scam Alert Kerala Police Warns of Fake E-Commerce Gift Offers

Kerala Police has warned people about a scratch-card scam in which fraudsters send fake gift letters in the names of e-commerce companies and use them to cheat recipients of money.

According to police, the fraudsters send letters by registered post containing scratch cards. On scratching the cards, recipients are told that they have won a large sum of money and are asked to contact a helpline or WhatsApp number mentioned in the letter to claim the prize.

The fraudsters then pose as company representatives and demand advance payments towards processing fees, documentation charges, income tax and other expenses before transferring the purported prize money to the recipient’s account, police said.

To gain the recipients’ trust, the scammers also send forged income-tax documents and official-looking seals through WhatsApp. Once the money is transferred to the accounts provided by the fraudsters, they become unreachable.

The police warned that any demand for advance payment in connection with scratch cards or gift offers is a clear indication of fraud.

People should not call unfamiliar numbers or share personal or banking details through WhatsApp, police said. They should remain cautious about unsolicited letters offering prizes and avoid making payments to claim such rewards.

The warning comes as fraudsters use the names of online shopping platforms to make the fake offers appear genuine. The letters are sent through registered post and contain scratch cards that promise recipients cash prizes.

After victims contact the numbers provided in the letters, the fraudsters allegedly continue the deception by posing as representatives and asking for different payments. The use of forged tax documents and official-looking seals is intended to support their claims, police said.

Police advised people to treat requests for advance payments linked to scratch cards or gift offers as a warning sign and not share information through WhatsApp.

Those who fall victim to such fraud should immediately report the matter by calling the cyber helpline 1930 or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, police said.