Did you get an RBI lottery or inheritance email? It's a scam, warns PIB
Fake RBI Emails Asking for 'Crediting Fee' Are Phishing Scams, Says Government
 "Did you get an RBI lottery or inheritance email? It's a scam, warns PIB")
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?
It is a term scammers use to make a payment request sound official. It usually refers to a fee that a person must pay before receiving money that has been “approved”, “awarded”, “donated”, “released”, or “credited” to their account.
Don’t Pay Any ‘RBI Processing Fee’ — Government Flags New Online Scam
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:
- bank details,
- passwords,
- Aadhaar information,
- PAN details,
- OTPs,
- or direct payments.
PIB Fact Check clarified that:
- 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:
- processing fee,
- transfer fee,
- RBI clearance charge,
- 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:
- 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.