Bengaluru Woman Falls Victim to Rs 18 Lakh Scam After Receiving Scratch Card and Letter—Here’s What Went Wrong
Karnataka News
In a recent case, a 45-year-old woman from Bengaluru was duped in a well-coordinated lottery scam, losing over Rs 18 lakh over a span of three months. The fraud started on January 28, 2024, when the woman, living in Annapurneshwari Nagar, received an envelope purportedly from an online e-commerce platform. Inside, she found a scratch card along with a letter detailing instructions and contact information. Eager to try her luck, Sanjana scratched the card and believed she had won Rs 15.51 lakh, according to Deccan Herald.
Excited by the news, she contacted the number provided in the letter. The fraudsters then asked her to share photos of the letter, scratch card, envelope, and her government ID for verification. They fabricated a story, telling her that lotteries were illegal in Karnataka, and she needed to pay a 30 percent tax to claim her winnings. Over the following months, she ended up transferring Rs 18.40 lakh through RTGS transactions, believing she would soon recover her money.
The scammers stayed in constant contact with Sanjana, feeding her reassurances and creating new hurdles to prolong the scam. Eventually, when they disappeared without a trace, she realized she had been duped and reported the case to cybercrime authorities. A case has since been registered under sections of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code.
Understanding Scratch Card Scams
Scratch card scams take advantage of people’s hopes for easy money. Fraudsters use fake scratch cards and demand upfront fees or personal information to trick victims. To avoid falling into such traps, it’s important to be cautious of unsolicited scratch cards, especially those requiring payments or sensitive details. Always verify promotions through official channels and avoid sharing personal information with unverified sources.
Summary
A Bengaluru woman fell victim to an elaborate lottery scam, losing over Rs 18 lakh within a span of three months. The ordeal began on January 28, 2024, when she received an envelope, allegedly from an online retailer, containing a scratch card. This small gesture quickly spiraled into a complex web of deceit, resulting in the substantial financial loss.
Kerala Lottery Tickets Sold Openly in Karnataka Despite Official Ban
A shopkeeper stated that the Kerala government processes and settles lottery claims regardless of whether the claimant resides in Karnataka or any other part of India.

In Puttur, a quiet town in Coastal Karnataka, Kerala government-run lottery tickets are openly sold despite a blanket ban on lotteries. The Karnataka government imposed this ban on all types of lotteries in 2007 under the leadership of then-Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
During an investigation, The Hindu discovered that a small paan shop in Manjalpadpu, Bolwar West, was selling these tickets at ₹40 each. The lottery offers a first prize of ₹75 lakh and a second prize of ₹10 lakh, with the draw scheduled for Tuesday, April 2.
When asked about the source of the tickets, a shopkeeper explained that he acquired them from an agent in Kerala who supplies retailers. Winners can claim their prize through various channels including directly, by post, or through banks. Claims up to ₹1 lakh are handled by the District Lottery Officer, while claims between ₹1 lakh and ₹20 lakh are processed by the Deputy Director of Lotteries.
The shopkeeper added that the Kerala government settles claims even if the claimant resides in Karnataka or anywhere in India.
Upon learning about this, Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police C.B. Ryshyanth confirmed that one person had been detained for selling lottery tickets. He further assured that the police will take additional action to curb this illegal practice in the future.
See also: Karnataka Resident Wins Big in Thiruvonam Bumper Lottery