"Congratulations! Your WhatsApp number has won ₹25,00,000 in the KBC Lucky Draw 2026, selected by Sony TV and Amitabh Bachchan." It's a message almost everyone in India recognizes on sight, precisely because the show itself is so familiar. That familiarity is the entire reason the scam still works, years after it first started circulating.
1. Remember how the real show actually works
Kaun Banega Crorepati is a televised quiz competition. Contestants qualify, appear on the show, and win money by correctly answering questions live on air, in front of an audience. There is no mechanism by which a phone number is randomly selected to receive prize money without ever appearing on the show.
2. Notice why the scam specifically borrows this brand
Because KBC is one of the most widely watched and trusted shows in the country, hosted by a hugely recognizable figure, invoking its name instantly makes a message feel more credible than an unnamed "lucky draw" would. The brand recognition is doing the persuasive work, not any real connection to the show.
3. Be alert to the same core signs as any lottery scam
These messages follow the standard lottery scam pattern: an amount you never entered to win, a request to pay a "processing fee," "tax," or "release charge" before receiving anything, and pressure to respond quickly before the offer "expires."
4. Never pay a fee to claim a prize you never entered
Real prizes, including genuine ones from real shows and companies, are never released only after you pay money first. Any request for an upfront fee to "unlock" your winnings confirms the message is fake.
5. Verify through the show's official channels if you're ever unsure
If you want to confirm, check the show's official website or verified social media accounts directly — never through a link or number provided in the suspicious message itself.
A quick checklist before you respond to a KBC or lottery message
- Did I ever apply for or appear on this show?
- Is it asking me to pay a fee to receive the prize?
- Is it pressuring me to respond quickly?
- Did this come from an unfamiliar number rather than an official channel?
- Have I checked the show's real official website or social media?
Any "yes" among the first three is enough to confirm this is not genuine.
Conclusion
Kaun Banega Crorepati is a real, long-running Indian television show — the scam simply borrows its trusted name to make an old lottery trick feel new and credible again. Once you know winning requires actually competing on the show, these messages lose their pull entirely.
This is a specific version of a broader pattern — our guide on checking a lottery or prize message covers the same trick without a specific brand name attached.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the real KBC show actually give away prizes through WhatsApp or SMS?
No. Kaun Banega Crorepati is a television quiz show where prizes are won by contestants answering questions live on air, not through a random WhatsApp message, text, or phone call to viewers at home.
Why do scammers specifically use the KBC name?
KBC is one of India's most widely recognized shows, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, which makes the brand name instantly familiar and believable to a huge number of people, especially compared to a made-up lottery name.
Is there a real KBC lucky draw connected to SIM cards or mobile numbers?
No. There's no legitimate KBC promotion tied to your mobile number, SIM card, or WhatsApp account. Any message claiming your number was randomly selected for a KBC prize is fabricated.
What should I do if I receive a KBC winner message?
Don't respond, click any link, or share any personal or bank details. You can simply ignore and delete the message, or report it as spam.
Further reading
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