Did you get an RBI lottery or inheritance email? It’s a scam, warns PIB | Personal Finance

If you have recently received an email claiming you have won lottery compensation money, inherited foreign funds or qualified for an RBI-backed “Donation Program 2026,” do not respond, click any links or transfer any money. The government has issued a fresh scam alert warning that such emails are fake and designed to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting users.

PIB Fact Check, the government’s official fact-checking unit, said fraudsters are circulating emails falsely pretending to come from the Reserve Bank of India. The scam messages reportedly ask people to pay a so-called ‘crediting fee’ under a ‘Donation Program 2026’ / ‘compensation payment for winning lottery’ scheme/ inheritance fund, etc. 

What is a crediting fee?

PIB said the fake message claims recipients are eligible to receive funds through a donation programme, compensation for winning a lottery, an inheritance fund, or similar financial schemes. Users are being asked to make a payment in order to access these funds.

According to the government, the emails are part of a phishing scam aimed at tricking people into sharing:

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  bank details,
• 
  passwords,
• 
  Aadhaar information,
• 
  PAN details,
• 
  OTPs,
• 
  or direct payments.

PIB Fact Check clarified that:

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  the RBI has not issued any such email,
• 
  is not running any donation programme,
• 
  and is not offering lottery compensation or inheritance schemes.

The warning is particularly important because such scams often target:

senior citizens, first-time internet users, job seekers, and people unfamiliar with digital banking fraud.

Typically, victims receive emails claiming they are entitled to a large payout but must first pay a:

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  processing fee,
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  transfer fee,
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  RBI clearance charge,
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  or account activation amount.

Once the payment is made, scammers either disappear or continue demanding additional payments under new excuses.

Many fake emails use:

RBI logos, official-looking signatures, forged government seals, or fake payment documents to appear genuine.

• 
  Some even include:
• 
  fake RBI officer names,
• 
  fabricated transaction numbers,
• 
  or copied government branding
• 
  to create credibility.

The government has advised users to:

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  avoid clicking suspicious links,
• 
  never share banking or personal information through email or SMS,
• 
  and verify all financial communication through official websites.

Users have also been asked to report suspicious government-related scam content to PIB Fact Check through:

WhatsApp: +91 8799711259

Email: factcheck@pib.gov.in

The alert comes at a time when phishing scams and digital payment frauds are rising sharply across India alongside increasing online banking adoption.