Kerala Police have busted a WhatsApp-based “parallel lottery” scam network in Alappuzha district and arrested four persons accused of cheating people through fake lottery promises and digital payment collections. Police said the accused used WhatsApp groups, QR codes and Google Pay references to lure participants into the fraudulent scheme.
WhatsApp Groups Used to Lure Victims
According to police, the arrested accused have been identified as Binoy, 35, his brother Bijoy, 38, Shaji Gopalakrishnan, 46, and Manoj Varghese, 46. The arrests were made by Venmani police after a tip-off about the alleged organised fraud operation.
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Investigators said the accused created multiple WhatsApp groups and promoted what they described as a “parallel lottery system”. The scheme was falsely projected as operating alongside the official state lottery.
Victims were allegedly asked to pay ₹35 per number through QR codes to participate. Police said the low entry amount helped the accused attract more people into the groups and expand participation.
Fake Results and Google Pay Promises
After collecting payments, the accused allegedly circulated manipulated lottery results and claimed that winners would receive prize money through Google Pay transfers. Police said no prizes were actually distributed.
Investigators believe the setup was designed to repeatedly collect money from participants while maintaining trust through fake winning announcements. The accused allegedly used digital payment systems and social media messaging to run the operation.
Officials said the fraud model relied on repeated updates, small payments and false claims of payouts to keep victims engaged. Authorities warned that such digital lottery schemes are fraudulent and not linked to any legitimate lottery system.
Links Beyond Alappuzha Under Probe
Preliminary findings suggest the scam may not have been confined to Alappuzha. Police are examining possible links to Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Perumbavoor and Thrissur.
Investigators are also probing suspected connections with networks operating outside the country. The financial trail of the collected funds is being examined to identify additional members of the syndicate.
The accused have been produced before court and remanded to custody. Police said further investigation is underway to trace other suspects and determine the full scale of the WhatsApp-based lottery fraud network.
