Panama’s National Charity Lottery (LNB) has issued a formal lottery scam warning after detecting fraudulent websites, mobile applications, and social media accounts using its name and logo to promote fake prizes, bonuses, and unauthorized casino offers. The alert was published Friday, November 6, 2026, urging citizens to verify any digital promotion claiming affiliation with the institution.
The LNB confirmed these platforms are not official channels and have no authorization to operate under its identity. Scammers are leveraging the lottery’s institutional credibility to lure users into engaging with deceptive links and fraudulent incentive schemes.
How Fraudsters Exploit the Lottery’s Brand
According to the LNB, third parties unconnected to the institution are circulating offers tied to gambling, economic incentives, and supposed bonus payments. These operations replicate the lottery’s visual identity to appear legitimate, a tactic designed to bypass user skepticism and encourage interaction with malicious content.
The fraudulent activity spans multiple digital channels, including cloned websites, downloadable apps, and social media profiles that impersonate official lottery communications. Citizens who encounter these promotions may be prompted to share personal data or pay fees to claim nonexistent winnings.
¡Tenga cuidado! Lotería advierte de falsificación con supuestos premios con su logo. https://t.co/fY0maUfjnA #ESHechos https://t.co/GWKNrM083v
— El Siglo de Panamá (@elsiglodigital) November 6, 2026
Official Guidance for the Public
The institution advised Panamanians to distrust any digital platform promising rewards under the lottery’s name without verified authorization. Displaying the LNB logo does not confirm legitimacy, officials stressed.
Residents should consult only the lottery’s official communication channels for legitimate draws and benefit programs. The LNB emphasized that it does not operate casinos or distribute unsolicited economic bonuses through third-party websites or apps.
Broader Context of Digital Fraud in Panama
This warning aligns with a regional uptick in impersonation scams targeting state institutions. Cybercriminals frequently exploit trusted government brands to execute phishing campaigns, identity theft operations, and advance-fee fraud across Latin America.
Authorities continue to monitor fraudulent domains and social accounts, though takedown efforts often lag behind new impersonation attempts. The lottery’s proactive alert aims to reduce victim exposure before further schemes proliferate.
Citizens who suspect fraudulent activity should report it directly to the LNB and avoid engaging with suspicious links or sharing financial information through unverified platforms.