"Congratulations, you have won": the fake promo by call or SMS that asks you to pay

"Congratulations, you have won": the fake promo by call or SMS that asks you to pay

"Congratulations! Your number has won ₦2,500,000 in our anniversary promo. Call this number to claim your prize." Or a call from a cheerful "promo manager" saying you have won a car, a phone or cash in a draw by your network, your bank, a drinks brand or a TV show. All you have to do is pay a small "processing fee", buy airtime for them, share your card details or read out a code. It is one of the oldest scams on Nigerian phones, and the rule that ends it is simple: a genuine prize never requires you to pay to receive it.

How does the fake prize scam work?

1. The announcement. An SMS, a call or a WhatsApp message tells you that you have won. Often it uses the name of a real brand, a mobile network or a popular programme to sound credible.
2. The "claim" step. You are asked to call a number, click a link or reply with your details.
3. The fee. To release the prize, you must pay "delivery", "tax", "registration", "clearance" or "processing", usually by transfer to a personal account, by airtime or by recharge card PINs.
4. The escalation. Once you pay, another fee appears: a "bank charge", a "customs fee" for the car, an "insurance fee". The prize never arrives.
5. The data harvest. Some versions are not after the fee but your card number, BVN, internet banking login or an OTP, "to send the money directly to your account".

Why does it look believable?

• Real brands do run promotions. Networks, banks and consumer brands frequently run draws, so a winning message does not sound impossible.
• They use names and logos you know, and sometimes the names of real presenters or company staff.
• The fee is small compared to the prize. Paying ₦5,000 to receive ₦2.5 million feels like a good deal.
• Excitement switches off caution. Good news makes us less critical than bad news.

What are the red flags?

• You never entered the draw or do not remember entering.
• You have to pay something to receive the prize: fees, taxes, airtime, recharge card PINs.
• The sender is an ordinary mobile number, not the company's official short code or name. Even an official-looking name can be faked.
• They ask for your card details, PIN, BVN or OTP.
• Urgency: "claim within 24 hours or the prize goes to another winner".
• Secrecy: "don't tell anybody until you receive it".
• Spelling mistakes, strange formatting and odd links.

Genuine consumer promotions in Nigeria are generally expected to be approved by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and a real company will let you confirm a win through its official channels.

What should I do if they've just called or texted me?

1. Do not pay anything and do not send airtime or recharge card PINs.
2. Do not share card details, BVN, NIN, passwords or codes.
3. Do not click the link and do not call the number in the message.
4. Verify yourself. Contact the company through its official website, app, verified social media page or official customer care line, which you look up on your own. Ask whether the promotion exists and whether you won.
5. Block and report the number in the spam numbers directory.

What if I've already paid or given my card details?

Do not blame yourself: these scams are built to look like good luck. Act now:

1. Call your bank immediately on its official number. If you gave card details or a code, ask them to block the card and review transactions. If you transferred money, ask them to try to recall it and flag the receiving account.
2. Do not pay any further fee, however close the prize seems.
3. Change your banking passwords if you shared them, and turn on transaction alerts.
4. Keep evidence: the SMS, call log, account numbers you paid into and receipts.
5. If you sent airtime or recharge PINs, tell your network: they may be able to help or flag the number.

Where do I report it?

• The police, at a station or through the Nigeria Police Force's National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) e-reporting portal, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if you lost money.
• Your network, for scam SMS and calls. If it does not resolve your complaint, escalate to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on its toll-free 622 line, as set out in the NCC complaint procedure.
• The company whose name was used, through its official channels, so it can warn other customers.
• NoCall, in the spam numbers directory.

Frequently asked questions

I really did enter a promo. Could it be real? It could, but verify through the company's official channels. A genuine winner is not asked to pay fees to a personal account to receive a prize.

They say the fee is for tax. Isn't that normal? Not as an upfront payment to a stranger's account. A real company will explain any formal deductions in writing, through official channels.

They only asked for my account number to send the money. Is that dangerous? Your account number alone cannot be used to withdraw money. But if they then ask for your PIN, password, card details or OTP, stop: that is how they get in.

They keep calling me from different numbers. What do I do? Block each number, do not engage, and report the numbers to your network and on NoCall.

In short

If you have to pay to receive a prize, it is not a prize. Do not pay, do not share card details or codes, check with the company through official channels and report the number. If you already paid, call your bank now and report it to the police and the EFCC. And report the number in the NoCall spam numbers directory: your warning protects the next "winner".