KBC Lottery Scam Impersonating SBI Officials — How to Identify & Stay Safe

INDIA — By BharatSecure Threat Intelligence Team · Updated May 29, 2026

Severity: HIGH | View Full Scam Details

KBC Lottery Scam Impersonating SBI Officials in India 2026: Protect Your UPI and WhatsApp

Beware of a growing scam where fraudsters impersonate SBI officials to trick KBC lottery “winners” into losing money via UPI and WhatsApp.

What Is the KBC Lottery Scam Impersonating SBI Officials?

This scam targets unsuspecting internet users across India by falsely claiming they have won a KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) lottery prize. The crooks impersonate officials from the State Bank of India (SBI), leveraging the bank’s trusted image to convince victims that they need to take immediate action to claim their supposed winnings. This adds an extra layer of credibility that makes victims more likely to fall for the ploy.

Reported cases show the scam mainly hits users active on WhatsApp and social media, where they receive unsolicited messages or calls informing them of the “win.” Given KBC’s popularity and SBI’s reputation, victims often believe these claims without suspicious. The scam reportedly affects people across cities and towns, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and smaller towns with increasing frequency in 2026.

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) have issued advisories warning about lottery scams linked with fake bank officials. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also reminds users to be vigilant about unsolicited contacts asking for UPI payments or KYC details. These institutions continuously urge users to verify the authenticity of any such communication, especially those mentioning prize winnings.

How This Scam Works — Step by Step

1. Initial Contact on WhatsApp or Social Media: The scam begins when the victim receives a WhatsApp message or a direct message on social media stating they have won a large KBC lottery prize worth several lakhs or crores of INR.

2. Impersonation of SBI Officials: Soon after, the scammers either call or send voice notes pretending to be SBI officials or KBC lottery coordinators. They mention official-sounding credentials and sometimes fake email IDs ending with “@sbi.in” (which are often spoofed).

3. Urgency & Verification Request: The caller stresses that the prize must be claimed urgently and asks victims to submit KYC documents like Aadhaar and PAN card images for “verification.”

4. UPI Payment for Processing Fees: To release the prize money, victims are asked to pay a processing or tax fee via UPI transfer. Scammers often provide a UPI ID like us**@bank or bank account details supposedly from SBI or a government agency.

5. Account Access or SIM Swap Attempts: Sometimes, the fraudster requests OTPs sent during the verification process or asks the victim to download apps that secretly grant them access to bank accounts or lead to SIM swap fraud.

6. Funds Drained and Contact Lost: Once payments are made, or account access is compromised, scammers disappear. Victims lose large amounts through UPI, often with no immediate way to recover their money.

Real Warning Signs to Watch For

• Unsolicited messages claiming you’ve won KBC lottery, especially without prior participation.
• Callers pressuring for immediate action with threats of prize forfeiture.
• Requests for confidential details like Aadhaar, PAN, or bank OTPs over voice calls or WhatsApp.
• Payments demanded upfront via UPI or to unknown accounts for processing or tax.
• Poor grammar, spelling mistakes, or inconsistent official email addresses in messages.
• Asking the victim to download apps or share remote access tools.
• Calls or messages that claim to be from SBI but come from numbers without a verified caller ID.

What Happens to Victims

Victims can face severe financial losses, especially since UPI payments are instant and usually irreversible. Once funds are transferred to scammers’ accounts, recovery is difficult without prompt reporting. Emotional distress is common since victims experience betrayal of trust involving India’s top bank, SBI, and a popular national lottery.

Additionally, sharing Aadhaar or PAN details can lead to identity misuse or unauthorized KYC updates, worsening the damage. Some victims have reported unauthorized SIM swaps after the scam, resulting in loss of bank OTPs and further fraudulent transactions.

What RBI and CERT-In Say

RBI has issued guidelines emphasizing never sharing OTPs or PINs with anyone, even if they claim to be bank officials. The central bank regularly reminds users that no legitimate bank will ask for UPI PINs or KYC details on phone calls or WhatsApp.

CERT-In and I4C encourage people to stay alert against phishing and lottery scams. They advise verifying any suspicious lottery claims or unusual bank-related messages via official channels. The 1930 national cybercrime helpline and RBI’s customer complaints helpline are available for reporting such fraud attempts promptly.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Do not respond to unsolicited WhatsApp or social media messages claiming you've won a KBC lottery or any prize.
2. Never share Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, or OTPs with unknown callers or via WhatsApp.
3. Verify the authenticity of any caller claiming to be from SBI by calling SBI’s official helpline before acting.
4. Avoid making UPI payments for lottery claims or processing fees.
5. Do not download or install unknown apps requested during prize claims.
6. Regularly monitor your bank and UPI transaction history for unauthorized activity.
7. Use mobile apps with built-in fraud detection and report suspicious numbers or messages to BharatSecure.app.

What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted

1. Immediately stop all communication with the suspected fraudsters.
2. Contact your bank or UPI service provider to block payments and freeze your account if necessary.
3. Report the incident quickly to the 1930 cybercrime helpline or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
4. Inform your mobile service provider if you suspect SIM swap fraud.
5. Change your online banking and UPI passwords immediately.
6. Lodge a complaint with the nearest police station for further investigation.
7. Use BharatSecure.app’s platform to verify suspicious messages and report the scam to help others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can SBI officials really call me about winning the KBC lottery?
No. SBI does not inform lottery winners via unsolicited calls or WhatsApp messages, nor does it ask for payments or confidential details through these channels.

Q: What should I do if I accidentally shared my UPI PIN or OTP with a caller?
Contact your bank immediately to block your UPI transactions and change your PIN. Report the incident to the 1930 cybercrime helpline and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.

Q: How can I verify if a message about winning the KBC lottery is genuine?
Avoid clicking any links or responding to such messages. Independently contact the official KBC or SBI customer care numbers listed on their verified websites for confirmation.

If you receive suspicious KBC lottery messages or calls impersonating SBI officials, verify immediately at BharatSecure.app. Report such fraud attempts promptly by calling 1930 to protect yourself and others.

Disclaimer: This article describes a pattern of fraud reported in public sources for public-safety awareness. It is not legal, financial, or medical advice. To request correction or removal of any content, write to hello@bharatsecure.app.