Lottery Scams: What They Are and How to Avoid Them

The primary goal of these scams is to trick you into believing you've won a "Shinda" lottery or a competition, all to steal your money or personal details, often through M-Pesa.

Common examples include getting random M-Pesa messages claiming you've won, or being sold fake scratch cards at the bus park.

Watch out for unsolicited messages, demands for "fees" to claim your winnings, and pressure to act fast before you can think straight.

Checking them out helps you confirm if they're legit and if they have a bad reputation for scamming people. Look for their registration with the Betting Control and Licensing Board of Kenya.

Giving out your details opens you up to identity theft and financial fraud, especially if the lottery claim is a con. Never share your M-Pesa PIN!

Scammers use Facebook and WhatsApp to find victims, creating fake profiles pretending to be real lotteries. They take advantage of the reach and anonymity these platforms offer.

You can report these scams to the Kenyan Police Cybercrime Unit, your local police station, or the Central Bank of Kenya.

A real lottery will have verified contact information, an official website with all the details, and a history of announcing actual winners.

Real lotteries and betting firms don't ask for money or pre-payment before they give you your winnings. If someone is asking for airtime or M-Pesa to process your winnings, it is likely a scam.

Yes, legitimate lottery winners do get their money, but it's crucial to verify the lottery's authenticity first. Check for licenses from the Betting Control and Licensing Board of Kenya and look for publicly announced winners.

The most common scams in Kenya involve fake M-Pesa lottery winnings, pyramid schemes promising quick riches, and employment scams requesting upfront fees.

Technology helps to track fraudulent activities, and blockchain can ensure transparency and integrity of online lotteries and betting platforms, making it harder for scammers to operate.

These scams usually involve receiving an unsolicited SMS message claiming you've won a lottery and requesting a small "processing fee" via M-Pesa to release your winnings. Once you send the money, the scammer disappears.

Since scammers often operate across borders, international cooperation helps Kenyan law enforcement work with other countries to track them down and bring them to justice.