If an older relative of yours scrolls Facebook, the ad behind this lottery scam could reach them too. A 71-year-old man lost S$21,688, his retirement savings, after he answered a Facebook ad that promised lottery wins. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) calls these lucky draw scams: you're told you've won, then asked to pay fees to claim the prize. By 31 July 2026, it had counted at least 254 cases since January, from quizzes, livestream scratchcards and lottery promotions, with at least S$983,000 lost.
Shin Min Daily News reported how the man, known as Yang, was drawn in.
On 9 September the scammer said a prize this large might raise suspicions of money laundering, so Yang had to pay handling fees first. Two days later, the same reason came with a bigger bill.
Yang made a police report on 16 September. He still sent another S$3,500 in the hope that the prize would come in October. He realised it was a scam when they asked for more and he read about similar cases in Chinese newspapers.
He said he lost S$21,688 in all, and police are still investigating. His cleaning contract had ended, and he told Shin Min he now lives on instant noodles and bread.
| When | What it was for | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Early September | Setting up an account | S$500 |
| Early September | Five sets of 4D numbers | S$500 |
| After the fake win | Rest of the first-prize fee | S$1,488 |
| 9 September | Handling fees | S$5,850 |
| 11 September | More handling fees | S$7,840 |
| After his police report | In the hope of getting the prize | S$3,500 |
Yes. In March 2023 the SPF warned about scammers who claimed to represent religious figures, or to be linked to them.
They messaged people out of the blue on WhatsApp or social media and asked if they wanted to be blessed with wealth. Then they offered to buy lottery numbers for the victim and said the victim had won.
Next came a request for a share of the winnings or admin fees. Victims found out when the payout was delayed again and again. The SPF had counted at least 55 victims since January 2023, with at least S$507,000 lost.
In July 2026 the SPF warned about Facebook live streams that sell scratchcards or lottery tickets. Buyers were later told they'd won a large cash prize, then asked to pay admin fees by PayNow to release it.
These come from the SPF advisories and Yang's case.
Don't transfer money to anyone whose identity you haven't verified, the SPF says. Its 2023 advisory adds that a windfall that sounds too good to be true probably is.
Its July 2026 advisory lists these steps:
The ScamShield Helpline on 1799 is open 24/7. Call it when you're unsure if something is a scam.
The helpline can also put a scam victim straight through to their bank. It does this for seven banks, listed on the ScamShield site.
The ScamShield Helpline can't make a police report for you. You can file one online through the police e-services page linked on the ScamShield site. If you need urgent police help, call 999.
Our guides explain three more scams: the fake investment guru scam on Facebook, the fake active ageing centre scam and the hotel booking scam.
It started with a Facebook ad promising lottery wins in late August, Mothership reported. Yang's call to the number failed, but the scammer called him back in early September and claimed insiders at Singapore Pools could share winning numbers.
The SPF says that after telling victims they've won, scammers ask for a share of the winnings or various admin fees. Victims often find out only when the payout keeps being delayed. Yang was told to pay handling fees because a large prize transfer might raise money laundering suspicions.
No. The ScamShield site says the 1799 helpline can't make police reports. You can file a report online through the police e-services page, or call 999 if you need urgent police help.
On 31 July 2026, the SPF said at least 254 lucky draw scam cases had been reported since January. Losses came to at least S$983,000. These scams ask for fees to claim prizes from quizzes, livestream scratchcards and lottery promotions.
This is general financial information for Singapore, not personal financial advice. Figures change, so verify current rates against the official sources above before acting. See our full disclaimer.
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