A big prize makes people hurry, and scammers count on it. Most lotto scams want one thing: for you to send money, or your one-time PIN (OTP), before you have time to check.
Fake “You Won” Messages
A text, chat or call says you won the lotto or a PCSO promo, then asks for a “processing fee”, a “tax” or your OTP to release it. That is a scam. You can only win the lotto with a ticket you bought, and the tax is taken out of the prize when you claim it at PCSO. PCSO has also warned the public about texts and emails that pretend to come from it with links to click.
“Sure Win” Numbers
Nobody can know the winning numbers before a draw: they are drawn at random, and every combination has the same chance. Anyone who sells “sure win”, “leaked” or “inside” numbers, or says they can fix a draw, is lying. Number tips, our hearings included, are only guesses: they are not guaranteed to match the official results.
Fake PCSO Pages, Ads and Apps
Scammers copy PCSO’s name and the faces of its officials. In 2024 PCSO called a Facebook ad for an “electronic lotto” app that used its officials’ photos fake, and in 2023 it filed complaints against online lotto operators running without its permission. Buy tickets only at authorized lotto outlets, and check any page, ad or app against pcso.gov.ph (opens in a new tab).
Links That Rush You
“Claim now”, “urgent” and “your prize expires today” are there to stop you from thinking. Don’t tap links about prizes in texts or chats: type pcso.gov.ph into your browser yourself.
What to Do Instead
- Check results and announcements at pcso.gov.ph (opens in a new tab) or at a lotto outlet.
- Claim prizes only at PCSO or an authorized lotto outlet: see How to Claim Your Lotto Prize.
- Never send money, a GCash or Maya transfer, or your OTP to anyone who says you won.
- Before you pay anyone, ask a family member or someone you trust.
Where to Report a Scam
Call the government’s anti-scam hotline 1326, run by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC). Keep screenshots of the messages and the sender’s number. Report fake pages and ads to Facebook too.
PH Lotto Win never messages anyone that they won the lotto, never sells lotto tickets, and never asks for money to release a prize.
Play only with money you can afford to lose. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, call the National Center for Mental Health crisis hotline 1553.