Winning-ticket con and fake kidnapping scam: كيف يعمل وعلامات التحذير وماذا تفعل

Social engineering · alto

Winning ticket: on the street or outside a bank, a stranger says they have a winning lottery ticket but can't claim it. An accomplice "confirms" the win. They offer to split the prize if the victim provides a guarantee — cash withdrawn on the spot, jewellery or a card.

Fake kidnapping: the victim receives a call with screaming or crying and someone claiming to have kidnapped their child or relative. They demand an immediate transfer and order the victim not to hang up or call the police.

Scammers use social media details (name, school, routine) and sometimes AI-cloned voices. They keep the victim on the line so they can't confirm the relative is safe.

Sinais / Signs

Stranger offers a share of a prize in exchange for a guarantee.
A "passer-by" turns up to confirm the story.
Call with crying or screaming and an immediate money demand.
Demand to stay on the line and tell no one.
Payment by Pix or deposit to a third-party account.

Prevenção / Prevention

Never hand money or valuables to strangers in exchange for prizes.
On a kidnapping call, try to reach the relative on another phone or through someone near them.
Agree on a family code word for emergencies.
Limit how much of your children's routine and location you share online.
Call the police (190 in Brazil, 911 in the US) for any threat.

O que fazer / What to do

Call your bank right away using the official number (back of the card or in the app) and ask to block cards, accounts and access.
If you paid via Pix, ask your bank to open a MED (Special Return Mechanism) claim as soon as possible — time matters because funds move fast.
File a police report with as much detail as possible (time, number, description of the scammers).
Warn family and neighbours, as scammers often work the same area.

FAQ

I got a call saying my child was kidnapped. What should I do?

Stay calm, try to reach your child or someone near them on another phone and call the police. In most cases the person is safe.

Does the winning-ticket con still happen?

Yes, it's an old face-to-face con that still targets older adults, often near bank branches.

CERT.br — Cartilha de Segurança para Internet · FTC — ReportFraud · FBI IC3 — Internet Crime Complaint Center