Kerala Police Crack Down on Fake Online Lotteries

Kerala police have issued notices to Google and Meta to remove fake lottery apps and advertisements from their platforms. The police identified 60 fake lottery apps, 25 fake Facebook profiles, and 20 websites involved in the scam. Stringent legal action is planned against the perpetrators, and the public is urged to remain vigilant.

In a stringent move, Kerala police have served notices to tech giants Google and Meta, demanding the removal of fake lottery apps and advertisements from their platforms. This step follows the discovery of 60 fake lottery apps, 25 fraudulent Facebook profiles, and 20 scam-related websites through extensive cyber patrolling.

According to the State Police Media Centre (SPMC), these scams involve fake advertisements under names such as 'Kerala Megamillion Lottery' and 'Kerala Summer Season Dhamaka,' falsely claiming state-run lottery availability online. Victims are often lured by messages promising exorbitant winnings.

After sending money, victims receive counterfeit lottery tickets and fabricated results. Fraudsters further manipulate victims by demanding extra funds for supposed taxes and duties. The police have urged the public to avoid falling prey to these scams and report suspected frauds to the helpline number 1930.

(With inputs from agencies.)