25-year-old from Tamil Nadu arrested for running fake Kerala lottery websites
The Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Crime Police have arrested a 25-year-old man from Tamil Nadu for allegedly operating fraudulent websites that impersonated the Kerala State Lotteries. The accused, identified as Dinesh A. from Pattukkottai in Thanjavur, was taken into custody after a complaint lodged by the State Lottery department.
According to police, Dinesh created websites that closely resembled the official Kerala government lottery portal, using the Kerala Lotteries name, official logos and the government's address to mislead customers. The websites claimed that Kerala lottery tickets could be purchased online and were promoted extensively through social media platforms.
The investigation revealed that the accused sent QR codes, UPI payment details and other digital payment options to prospective buyers through WhatsApp. Victims who transferred money were promised that lottery tickets would be dispatched to them by parcel. However, no such tickets were ever delivered.
The police identified three websites operated by the accused: keralalotteryonlinebuy.com, keralalotteryonlinepurchase.com and keralalotteryonlinebooking.com. Several people were allegedly duped through these platforms. The fraud came to light after victims approached the State Lottery department, which subsequently lodged a complaint with the cyber crime police.
Investigators traced the accused by analysing the WhatsApp numbers used in the operation, domain registration details of the websites and UPI payment information. After his arrest, Dinesh was remanded to judicial custody.
District Police Chief (Thiruvananthapuram City) Arul R.B. Krishna warned the public that Kerala State Lottery tickets are not sold online through websites or social media platforms. He urged people to remain vigilant against such fraudulent offers and advised victims of online financial fraud or cybercrime to report complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or by calling the NCRP helpline number 1930.
This case highlights the growing risk of cyber frauds that exploit trusted government names. The Kerala State Lotteries are a legal, government-run lottery, but tickets are sold only through authorised agents and lottery counters, not through the internet. Authorities have repeatedly cautioned citizens to verify the authenticity of any online offer before making payments.
The police have urged the public to exercise caution while engaging in any online transaction, especially those promising quick gains. They also emphasised that reporting cybercrime promptly can help investigators track and arrest fraudsters more effectively.
