What Is the KBC Lottery Scam?

The KBC lottery scam is one of the most widespread financial frauds in India. In this scheme, fraudsters contact unsuspecting individuals — often via phone call, WhatsApp, or SMS — claiming that their mobile number has been selected as a winner of the "KBC Lottery" and that they have won a large sum of money, typically ranging from ₹25 lakh to several crores.

The truth: KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) does not run any lottery. KBC is a television quiz show on Sony TV, and it has no lottery scheme whatsoever. Any message or call claiming otherwise is a fraud.

How the Scam Typically Unfolds

  1. Initial Contact: The victim receives a WhatsApp message, phone call, or SMS congratulating them on "winning" the KBC lottery. The message often includes the KBC or Sony logo and may reference Amitabh Bachchan.
  2. Building Trust: The scammer provides a fake "lottery number," a fake "winner certificate," and sometimes even an official-sounding "KBC helpline number" to call for verification.
  3. The Demand: The victim is told they must pay a fee — framed as "processing charges," "government tax," "courier charges," or "verification fees" — before the prize can be released.
  4. Escalating Requests: Once the victim pays, they are asked for more money for further "formalities." This cycle continues until the victim refuses or runs out of money.
  5. Disappearance: Once the scammer has extracted as much money as possible, all contact ceases.

Common Signs of a KBC Lottery Scam

  • You receive a message saying you've won despite never registering for KBC.
  • Communication comes from a personal WhatsApp number, not an official Sony channel.
  • You are asked to keep the matter "confidential."
  • You are asked to pay any amount of money upfront to receive your winnings.
  • The caller speaks with urgency and sets a deadline ("you must claim within 24 hours").
  • Documents shared look official but contain spelling errors or mismatched logos.

What to Do If You Receive a Scam Call

  1. Do not engage: Hang up or do not reply to the message. Engaging with scammers can make you a repeat target.
  2. Do not pay anything: No legitimate prize requires an upfront payment. Ever.
  3. Do not share personal information: Never provide your Aadhaar number, bank account details, or OTPs to unknown callers.
  4. Report the number: Report the scammer's number on the Sanchar Saathi portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in) or the cybercrime portal at cybercrime.gov.in.
  5. Call the cybercrime helpline: Dial 1930 to report financial fraud.

How to Verify If a KBC Communication Is Real

Genuine KBC-related communications will:

  • Come only through official Sony TV channels — the SonyLIV app or the official Sony website.
  • Never ask for money at any stage.
  • Be publicly verifiable — real KBC contestant selections are documented and verifiable.

If in doubt, visit sonyliv.com or the official Sony TV social media pages and contact them directly through verified accounts.

Who Is Most Targeted?

Scammers typically target people in rural areas, senior citizens, and those less familiar with digital fraud. Spreading awareness in your community — especially among elderly family members — is one of the most powerful ways to combat this fraud.