A 59-year-old man in Singapore lost more than $2,000 after falling for an online scam promising insider information about winning 4D lottery numbers, highlighting how fraudsters exploit the hope of quick financial gains.
The man, identified as Zhu Jinzong, told Shin Min Daily News that he contacted a person he found through a Facebook post in late November 2025. The individual claimed to have connections with someone working at the Tote Board who could obtain the winning numbers for the top three 4D prizes.
Zhu, who worked as a private-hire driver, said he had explained that his finances were tight. The alleged scammer offered to pay the supposed insider fee upfront, asking Zhu only to pay a membership fee of $328.
After transferring the money, Zhu was given a number to bet on in the December 6 draw. He placed a $100 bet and was instructed to send a selfie of himself holding the betting slip.
Later, the individual told him that the winning number had changed and claimed a new bet had been submitted on his behalf. After the results were announced, Zhu received a photograph of a betting slip that appeared to show he had won $300,000.
Believing the claim, Zhu was overjoyed. The scammer then asked him to pay $1,800 as a “tip” for the person who had supposedly provided the insider information. Zhu agreed and transferred the money.
However, the demands did not stop there. He was subsequently asked to pay additional charges, including an adjustment fee of more than $4,000, supposedly to facilitate the deposit of his prize money.
Growing suspicious, Zhu lodged a police report and examined the photograph more closely. He discovered that the image had been manipulated: his original betting number had been changed to match the actual winning number, making it appear that he had successfully won the $300,000 prize.
The altered photograph was allegedly used as a success story to convince other people that the service was legitimate.
Zhu said he wanted to share his experience to prevent others from losing their hard-earned money to similar schemes.
The case underscores a recurring tactic used by lottery scammers: advertising supposedly guaranteed winning numbers, fabricating evidence of past wins and demanding successive payments under the guise of membership fees, insider tips or prize-processing charges.
Members of the public should be wary of anyone claiming to possess guaranteed lottery numbers or confidential information about upcoming draws. Such promises are a major warning sign of fraud, and photographs of winning tickets or testimonials shared online can be manipulated.
Anyone who encounters a suspicious lottery scheme should verify claims through official channels and avoid transferring money to unknown individuals. If money has already been sent, they should contact their bank immediately and report the incident to the police.
