"You Have Won a Promo": Fake Telco and Bank Promotion Scams
Scammers pretend to be your mobile network or bank and say you have won a promotion. How these fake promo scams work, what they want from you, and how to confirm a real promotion.
A call or text from "your network" or "your bank": you have been selected as a winner in their anniversary promo, loyalty draw or customer appreciation campaign. The prize might be cash, airtime, data, a phone or even a car. To claim it, you just need to confirm a few details, dial a code, or pay a small fee. This is one of the most common scams wherever mobile money and mobile banking are popular.
What the scammers are really after
- Your PIN or one-time code, to take over your mobile money wallet or banking app.
- A payment, described as a fee, tax or "activation" charge.
- An approval, where you are guided to dial a code or confirm a prompt that actually sends money from your account.
- Your personal details, for identity fraud or a later SIM swap.
Real promotions never need your PIN, password or one-time code. If a "promo" caller asks for any of these, hang up.
How the scam unfolds
- You did not enter any promotion.
- Entering your PIN on a prompt approves a payment from your wallet. Receiving money never requires your PIN.
- What to do: hang up and check any promotion through the official app or customer service number.
- A registration fee to claim a prize.
- A request for identity details that could be used for a SIM swap or account takeover.
How to confirm a real promotion
- Open the official app of your network or bank and look for the promotion and any notification of a win.
- Call the official customer service number, from the app, the official website, or the back of your card. Not a number from the message.
- Check official social media pages for announced winners, but be aware of copycat accounts.
- Visit an official shop or branch if you are still unsure.
Rules that protect you
- You never need to enter your PIN to receive money.
- You never need to pay to collect a genuine prize.
- Never share one-time codes, even with someone claiming to be staff.
- Never dial codes someone reads to you over the phone.
If you already shared a PIN or code
- Call your network or bank immediately on the official number and ask them to block your wallet or account.
- Change your PIN and passwords from a trusted device.
- Check for transactions you did not make, and ask for them to be reversed or investigated.
- Watch for signs of a SIM swap, such as losing signal suddenly. See our guide to SIM swap fraud.
- Report it, and see our guide to mobile money scams.
Got a "promo" message? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
Fake promos are a close relative of fake lottery and prize messages. For all the tricks in this family, read our guide to online scams.
Frequently asked questions
Do mobile networks and banks run real promotions?
Yes, but they announce them through official channels, and you can confirm any win in the official app, on the official website, or by calling the official customer service number.
Why would a promo caller need my PIN or a code?
They should not. A request for your PIN, password or a one-time code is how scammers take over mobile money wallets and bank accounts. No genuine promotion needs it.
The message came from a short code or a sender name like my network. Is it real?
Not necessarily. Sender names can be spoofed, and scammers also call from ordinary numbers claiming to be customer care. Always confirm through official channels.
Sources
- Fake Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- How To Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages, US Federal Trade Commission
- Phishing: spot and report scam emails, texts, websites and calls, UK National Cyber Security Centre
