How to Avoid Postcode Lottery Scams

Posted By Phoebe Griffits 4th January 2022

According to data from Action Fraud for between April and October 2021, almost half (49%) of all reported lottery fraud involved scammers impersonating the People’s Postcode Lottery. In monetary terms, this equates to nearly £500,000 being lost to Postcode Lottery related scams in just 7 months.

The Postcode Lottery is one of the biggest and most well-known lotteries in the UK so scammers use this to their advantage as they like to use trusted organisations and companies.

How do Postcode Lottery scams work?

Postcode Lottery scams most commonly occur via cold calls (59%), but scammers may also contact their victims via email and post too.

The scammers claim that your postcode has won, but that you must pay an upfront fee in order to claim your winnings. They may ask for cash via a bank transfer, but there have also been reports of scammers asking for you to purchase gift cards and relay the codes to them.

In other instances, victims have been asked to provide their personal information such as name, date of birth, home address etc and their bank card details in order to claim their winnings.

How to identify and protect yourself from Postcode Lottery scams

The most important thing to remember is that the Postcode Lottery will never ask you to pay an upfront fee via bank transfer or gift vouchers to claim your winnings.

Winnings will be transferred to you automatically using the information that you provided when you set up your subscription – so they also do not need your bank details.
If you are contacted by the Postcode Lottery but you don’t play it by paying the monthly subscription, then this is definitely a scam. After all, it’s impossible to win a lottery/competition that you haven’t entered.
If you have been contacted by the Postcode Lottery and you are unsure whether it’s legitimate, then you can check on their website whether your postcode has won. Just go to their ‘Lottery Results’ page and select the type of prize that you think you may have won.
If you are contacted on social media by an account with the Postcode Lottery’s username, then make sure you look for the blue tick. Their social media accounts are verified, so there will always be a blue tick by their name.

But remember, the Postcode Lottery do not contact winners via social media. Winners are notified by email, SMS message, letter, or phone call, depending on the size of the winnings.

What to do if you receive a Postcode Lottery scam call or email

If you are unsure about any communication that you’ve received, then you should contact the People’s Postcode Lottery on 0808 109 8765 or by emailing them at info@postcodelottery.co.uk. They will be able to advise you as to whether the communication is genuine and what you need to do next.

You should also report the scam to Action Fraud (the national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre).

If you have given your bank details or transferred money to a scammer, then you need to contact your bank straight away. They will be able to cancel your card and prevent further funds from being stolen.

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