The financial disciplinary and intermediary, the Reserve Bank of India has issued an alert for the masses against a fraudulent lottery scheme popularised via email in the country.

The email declares an individual as lottery-winner and states that an amount has been allocated against the winner name in an account with RBI. The winner is asked to transfer certain money into a specified bank account as administrative fee to claim the winning amount.

The email also mentions a contact number on the winners can call to claim the bonanza. The scheme cites the authority of RBI' and promises windfall profits to allure masses.

The regulator cautioned, that in an attempt to make the scheme look genuine, the fraudsters are using fake RBI certificates, with details like name, designation and signature of the some officers of the central bank attached to the email.

The regulator has clarified that it does not maintain any beneficiary account in the name of individuals, companies, or trusts in India to hold funds for disbursal.

The regulator also stated that it does not issue ‘‘any certificates, advice or confirmation, evidencing receipt and holding of money in such accounts".