The Regina Police Service has issued a warning about lottery scam video calls. If someone contacts you unexpectedly to say you have won a prize, take time to check the claim before sharing information or sending money.
What the scam looks like
The police warning identifies video calls as part of the scam, but the headline does not provide details about a particular caller, prize or request. In lottery scams generally, a caller claims that you have won a draw or prize, even though you did not enter it or do not remember entering.
A video call can make the person seem more convincing. They may present themselves as a lottery representative, show documents or use a polished background. Those details do not prove that the prize is real or that the caller represents a legitimate organization.
In common versions of this type of fraud, the caller may ask for personal or banking information, a verification code, or a payment to cover taxes, fees or delivery before releasing a supposed prize. They may ask you to act quickly or to keep the conversation private. These are general warning signs; the source warning does not confirm which tactics are being used in this instance.
If you think you entered a real lottery, check the organization’s official contact information independently. Do not use a number or link supplied during the call. A caller’s video, profile, documents or caller ID can be misleading.
Red flags to watch for
- You did not enter: You are told you won a lottery or contest you do not recall entering.
- You must pay first: The caller demands money to release a prize, especially through gift cards, cryptocurrency or a money transfer.
- They want sensitive details: They ask for your bank or card information, passwords, identity documents or one-time security codes.
- They create urgency: You are told to respond immediately or risk losing the prize.
- They ask for secrecy: They discourage you from speaking with family, your bank or the organization they claim to represent.
- They control the next step: They want you to click a link, install an app, share your screen or move the conversation to another service.
- You cannot verify the claim: The supposed lottery cannot confirm your win through contact information you found independently.
What to do if you’ve been targeted
- End the call. Do not continue because the caller is on video, and do not share codes, passwords, financial details or identity documents.
- Do not pay or click. Avoid sending money, opening links, installing software or sharing your screen at the caller’s direction.
- Verify independently. If a real organization is named, find its official contact information yourself and ask whether the prize claim is genuine. Do not rely on contact details supplied by the caller.
- Contact your bank promptly if you sent money or shared banking or card details. Ask what steps are needed to secure your accounts and dispute or stop transactions. Change any affected passwords, and change them anywhere else you reused them.
- Save relevant information. Keep messages, payment records and details about the contact, if it is safe to do so. Do not forward suspicious links or engage further just to gather evidence.
- Tell someone you trust. A second opinion can help you check a claim, especially if the caller is pressuring you to act quickly or keep it secret.
How to report it
Report suspected fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. You can also contact your local police service. If money or banking details are involved, contact your bank as soon as possible. Reporting can help document what happened and may help authorities identify patterns, even if you did not lose money.
A video call is not proof that a prize is genuine. Pause, verify the claim through an independent channel, and do not pay or disclose sensitive information to collect an unexpected win.
Source: Fraud Warning: Lottery Scam Video Calls – Regina Police Service
Reviewed by our editorial team on .
The Scam Alert Team tracks fraud targeting Canadians and turns official warnings into clear, practical advice. Our team has a background in IT and cybersecurity, and every article is fact-checked against official sources before publication. How we verify alerts