Big Ticket Abu Dhabi warns of online scammers luring public with false lotto win claims

Host of long-running draw has urged public to be vigilant over threat of cyber criminals

UAE residents who struck lucky with Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw attended a gala dinner. Organisers of the draw celebrated the winners' good luck at the Alexandra Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina. All photos by Leslie Pableo / The National

Richard Isaac and Bouchra Yamani, the two presenters who pick out the raffle tickets and call the winners, interacted with the winners. Some of attendees had won jackpots of between Dh1 million to Dh15 million, while others won Dh90,000

'The National' spoke to winners about how they have spent their grand prize. Shivamurthy Gali Krishnappa won Dh12 million last month. He said he wants to save for his children's future. For now, he is still working as a mechanical engineer for a stainless steel production company

Shahed Ahmed Moulvifaiz, a Bangladeshi car garage owner in Al Ain, won Dh10 million less than a week ago. He wants to bring his family to the UAE, expand his business and spend on his youngest son's education

Jayaprakash Mariyan Philip had won the Dh1 million prize with nine other people. The funds were split equally, leaving him with Dh100,000. He said he has paid off part of his bank loans

Zaheenn Kausar was visiting her husband in Abu Dhabi from Pakistan, when he bought a ticket under her name. She proved lucky for her family after winning Dh90,000. She wants to pay for her daughter's university tuition and buy a car for herself

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 5,000 people would gather during a live event in Abu Dhabi to watch the draw take place. Since 2020, the draw streams live on social media channels, bringing in even larger crowds

Many people buy multiple tickets together and then split the prize equally. There are also those who win after buying a ticket alone, allowing them to keep the entire jackpot

The Abu Dhabi Big Draw has been changing lives since 1992

The ticket for the grand prize costs Dh500

The host of the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw has warned contestants to be vigilant against online scammers luring in unwitting members of the public with false claims of jackpot wins.

Bouchra, the Moroccan co-host of the monthly raffle, said fraudsters were approaching contestants on social media, pretending to represent the Big Ticket.

In some cases, contestants were asked to share bank account details with the scammers.

“There are scammers who go on social media and pretend they are from the Big Ticket,” she said, speaking to The National.

“They set up fake accounts and ask them to share documents and bank account details.”

The draw was launched in 1992, with a prize of DH1 million, and often offers big money prizes.

Earlier this week, an Indian man won a jackpot prize of Dh20 million.

Be aware of warning signs

Verifying an approach from the Big Ticket is an easy process, said Bouchra.

“If you are a winner we will contact you by email and there will be a phone number for our hotline to call,” she said.

“You can verify you have won there and you can also check our website, where there will be a list of winners.

“There is an email address you can message, too.”

She added that the email notification for winners will also inform them to expect a call from a specified number.

Another giveaway that an approach is not genuine is being contacted to be told you have won on a day other than when the draw takes place, said Bouchra.

In addition to cash prizes, contestants can also win cars, such as Maseratis and Jeeps.

Entry to the monthly draw costs Dh500.

The highest cash prize has been Dh35 million.

That was the sum won by an Indian worker and 20 of his colleagues in November.

They each took home a prize of around Dh1.2 million.