Bangkok: Urgent warnings have been issued by the Government Lottery Office regarding the proliferation of counterfeit lottery tickets. The office advises buyers to meticulously check their tickets to avoid being deceived by fake winning numbers.
According to Thai News Agency, Lieutenant Colonel Nun Sansanakom, Director of the Government Lottery Office, highlighted concerns over fraudsters using counterfeit and altered lottery tickets to scam buyers into paying out prizes. The office urges thorough verification of tickets to prevent financial losses and becoming victims of fraud. Buyers are advised to compare their tickets with genuine Government Lottery tickets from the same draw, checking for general characteristics such as paper thickness, image, number size, and font size. Special features to inspect include a watermark of a mythical bird (Vayupaksa) visible under white or bright light, a fluorescent silk thread or line across the numbers under purple light, and clear visibility of the orange anti-copy ink used for printing the numbers. Additionally, rubbing the ticket with clean water can help verify its authenticity, as the ink on real tickets does not dissolve when exposed to water.
Further methods to detect alterations or tampering involve examining suspicious areas of the ticket with a camera or magnifying glass, particularly the lottery number or date. This includes scenarios where numbers from another ticket are pasted over losing numbers to match a winning ticket or where numbers are scratched, erased, or peeled off and replaced with those from another ticket.
The Government Lottery Office ensures that the printing of physical lottery tickets is conducted under a quality system adhering to the international standard ISO 9001:2015, making counterfeiting difficult. Those claiming winnings are advised to exercise caution to avoid victimization. Verification methods can be accessed at www.glo.or.th. Anyone attempting to claim prizes using counterfeit or altered tickets at the Government Lottery Office or elsewhere faces criminal prosecution, with penalties ranging from six months to five years in imprisonment and fines from 10,000 to 100,000 baht. The office currently employs specialized staff in lottery ticket verification to assist the public.