Stay Safe from Lottery Scams

We’d like to alert all users about fraudulent messages falsely claiming lottery winnings.

In these scams, individuals are contacted via phone, email, text, or mail with claims that they’ve won a lottery prize. Unless you receive a direct notification from sadokiwilotto, these messages are not genuine. Scammers often impersonate legitimate organisations to trick recipients. Remember, in New Zealand, Lotto Points purchases and prize notifications are handled securely and directly through authorised channels only.

You should never respond to suspicious messages or share your personal or payment information with unknown senders.

Common Red Flags

  • sadokiwilotto will never ask you to pay in order to claim a prize.
  • Legitimate winnings never involve upfront ‘processing fees’ or any kind of advance payment. (Read more in What if I win?)
  • If you receive a cheque along with a request to send money back — it’s a scam. These cheques are fake and will not clear.
  • Do not share private details like your IRD number, bank account, or credit card with anyone claiming to be a lottery official.

How to Report a Scam

If you’ve encountered a suspected scam, report it to New Zealand’s Consumer Protection agency through the official website or contact the Commerce Commission for further guidance.