Calls from the allegedly employees of the TV company demanding to pay for the delivery of the won car is the first and surest sign that you have encountered fraudsters. The real Field of Wonders never asks winners to transfer money for prizes, taxes or couriers’ services before actually receiving the winnings. If you are offered a guaranteed lottery or a show for a certain amount, this is a planned scam designed to empty your bank account.
Fraud schemes are often based on the use of the brand of popular broadcasts, the logos of the First channel and voice imitations of famous TV presenters. Attackers use social engineering techniques to build the victim’s trust and sense of involvement in the big event. It is important to understand that real drawings are strictly on the air or on official platforms, and any "closed" draws for the chosen ones by phone are a lie.
In this article, we will analyze in detail the mechanics of fraudsters, learn how to recognize fake sites and protect your personal data. You will learn why you can’t follow suspicious links and how to verify the authenticity of winnings without risking your wallet.
Major Fraud Schemes Using Brand
The most common form of deception is fake-lottery, which are supposedly held in between seasons or in honor of the anniversary of the transfer. Scammers send SMS messages or make auto calls, reporting the happy news of a large win. To receive a prize, the victim is asked to pay a “state fee”, “notary services” or “cargo insurance”. In fact, there is no money in the victim’s accounts, and all the data is immediately used to steal funds from the cards.
Another popular method is the creation of phishing sitesThey are visually copying the official website of the TV company. Users are asked to register to participate in an online game by entering their phone number and bank card details for “verification”. After entering the information, funds are written off or a paid subscription to unnecessary services is issued. Such resources often have an address that differs from the official one letter.
⚠️ Note: No official lottery requires a prepayment to receive a winning. If you are asked to pay first, it is 100% cheating.
Fraudsters have also stepped up, offering “guaranteed participation” in the filming of the show for money. They promise to organize a passage into the studio for a certain amount, book a place in the hall or even rigged the results of the game in favor of the participant. Such services have nothing to do with reality, since the selection of participants is free of charge and on a competitive basis by the TV company itself.
- 📞 False calls on behalf of the organizers demanding urgent payment.
- 💻 Fake sites-doubles with a form of entering data map.
- 💸 Offers to buy "secret techniques" of winning the game.
- 🎁 Rabbits of non-existent cars and apartments in social networks.
How to Recognize a Fake Website or Advertisement
Visual analysis of the web resource allows you to identify most of the fakes created by attackers. First of all, pay attention to the address bar of the browser: the domain name must coincide with the official website of the channel or the broadcasting company. Often, scammers use free hosting or domains in areas that are not typical for large media holdings, for example, in the Internet. .ru.com or .org instead .ru.
The second sign is the presence of grammatical errors, poor-quality images of logos and the lack of relevant information. Official resources always indicate the contacts of the editorial office, legal address and license data. Fake pages often feature aggressive ads, pop-ups demanding “confirm that you are not a robot” by entering a phone number, leading to money loss.
Technical signs of phishing
Check the site security certificate (the presence of a lock in the address bar). If the browser warns that the connection is not secure, or the certificate is issued in the name of an individual, not an organization, leave the page immediately. Also dangerous is the lack of a privacy policy and a section “About us” with real data.
Particular caution should be exercised when clicking on links from advertising banners in social networks and instant messengers. Fraudsters often buy ads promising easy money or valuable prizes. If a sentence looks too good to be true, it is likely to be. Social engineering In such ads works on the greed of users.
| Sign. | Official resource | Fraudster site |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | It matches the channel brand. | Similar, but with mistakes or words. |
| Claiming money | Absent. | Payment for winnings, commission, delivery |
| Contacts | Real phones and addresses | Only a feedback form or mobile |
| Advertising | Minimum, native. | Aggressive, pop-up windows |
Psychological Tricks and Social Engineering
Fraudsters who operate under the cover of popular TV projects masterfully use psychology to manipulate victims. The main lever of pressure is fervor. The message of winning a million rubles or a car causes a release of dopamine, dulling critical thinking. In a state of euphoria, a person stops analyzing facts and is ready to believe in any fairy tale.
Another method is to create an artificial time deficit. Operators are pushing for an immediate decision, arguing that the prize is only reserved for 15 minutes. Phrases like “right now, draw up documents” or “in 5 minutes the winnings will burn” do not give time to check information or consult with loved ones. This is a classic pressure technique used in bench.
If you get a call and talk about winning, hang up and call back the official support service of the channel yourself. Do not use the numbers that are dictated to you.
Brand authority is often used. Fraudsters present themselves as specific employees, naming real people who are not present at the moment, or referring to “closed management orders.” They can use deepfake audio to mimic the voice of a prominent TV host, which is confusing and trusting.
- 🧠 Exploitation of greed and dreams of easy gain.
- ⏳ Creating a stressful situation with a lack of time.
- 🎭 Imitation of the voice and manner of speech of famous personalities.
- 🔒 Intimidation of consequences of refusal to issue a winning.
The danger of paid subscriptions and SMS fraud
One of the most hidden threats is the imposition of paid subscriptions under the guise of checking a number or registering in the game. The user is asked to send an SMS with a code or click on the link for “identity confirmation”. At this point, an expensive subscription to entertainment content is issued to the phone number, which will charge money daily or weekly, often without the subscriber’s knowledge.
The second option is to enter the personal account of the winner, where you need to enter the card data for "receiving funds." At this point, the card details are copied and the fraudsters gain access to the account. Even if there is no money on the card, attackers can try to take out a microcredit or arrange installments using your personal data.
⚠️ Warning: Never enter CVC codes or SMS codes on third-party sites. Bank employees and lottery organizers never ask for this information.
To protect against such actions, it is recommended to install antivirus software on your smartphone with a fraud protection function and a blocker of paid subscriptions. Check the details of the expenses with the mobile operator regularly. If you notice unknown charges for services that you do not use, immediately write a refund application and block the service.
☑️ Payment security check
Legal aspects and where to complain
In Russia, there is article 159 of the criminal code of the Russian Federation "Fraud", which provides for liability for theft of funds by deception. If you are a victim of fraud on the Field of Wonders, you must record the fact of the crime. The first step is to call the bank to block the card and cancel the transaction if the money has not yet left.
Next, you should file a complaint with the police through the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or in person at the department. The application should be accompanied by screenshots of correspondence, phone numbers from which calls were received, and checks for debiting funds. It is also important to report fraudsters to your mobile operator’s support team – they can block short numbers and services through which funds were withdrawn.
Do not forget about Roskomnadzor, which is engaged in blocking phishing sites. Writing a complaint to the official website of the Ministry will help to quickly close access to the resource for other potential victims. Collective complaints from victims speed up the process of law enforcement action.
Prevention and Digital Hygiene Regulations
Protection against fraud begins with improving your literacy. The rule must be learned: Free cheese is only available in a mousetrap.. No lottery wins that you have not officially participated in are possible by definition. If you didn’t buy a ticket and fill out a coupon on the official website, you couldn’t win a prize.
Use two-factor authentication for all important accounts, including inboxes and social media. This will prevent attackers from accessing your personal information even in the event of a password leak. Update your software regularly on smartphones and computers, as updates often contain security patches that close vulnerabilities.
The first rule of security is to trust only official sources of information. Everything else is a potential threat.
Teach your elderly family the basics of online safety. They are the ones who are most often the victims of phone scams because of their gullibility and less technical awareness. Explain to them that police, bank or television officers never resolve issues over the phone or require money to be transferred to a “safe account.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you really win a car in the Field of Wonders lottery?
Real car drawings are held only within the framework of official promotions, information about which is published on the website of the First Channel or on the air of the program. All such promotions have strictly regulated rules, published in advance. Any “unscheduled” phone prize distribution is a scam.
What if I have already transferred money to fraudsters?
Immediately contact the bank with a statement about a fraudulent transaction (chargeback). In parallel, file a report with the police. The chances of returning money depend on the reaction speed: if the funds are still in the transit account or have not had time to be cashed out, they can be frozen.
How to verify the authenticity of SMS about winning?
Official notifications never contain links to click on and do not require response in the form of a call or SMS. The best way to check is to ignore a message or call a TV hotline that is taken from official sources, not from the message received.
Is it dangerous to follow the link to the SMS from the allegedly organizers?
Yes, it's extremely dangerous. The link can lead to a phishing site that will automatically upload the virus to your device or redirect to a page that steals data. Never follow links from unknown senders, even if they are well-known brands.