National Lottery operator Allwyn UK has warned British lottery retailers to remain vigilant for an active fraudster.
According to retail industry news outlet Better Retailing, an Allwyn alert was sent across multiple retailers warning about an active fraudster around London.
The alert was seen by Better Retailing, which also published a statement from an Allwyn spokesperson. The fraudster is apparently claiming to be an Allwyn sales executive and may be carrying a fake Allwyn employee pass and wearing National Lottery branded clothing.
“National Lottery retailers across selected areas of London have recently been reminded to stay vigilant,” Allwyn’s spokesperson told Better Retailing.
“They are advised to follow established security procedures if approached by anyone they do not recognise as an authorised representative of Allwyn. This communication forms part of our ongoing efforts to protect both retailers and customers from potential fraudulent activity.
“While we do not comment on individual cases, we remain committed to working closely with retailers and relevant authorities to ensure the integrity and security of National Lottery games in stores.”
The fraudster seems to be targeting National Lottery scratchcards. The individual in question is attempting to pass off as a National Lottery employee to access retailers’ scratchcard stocks, and subsequently validate prizes from stolen packs and claim the money.
The National Lottery remains one of the biggest gaming verticals in the UK, playing a particularly big role in the retail sector.
According to the latest UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) figures, gross gaming yield (GGY) from the National Lottery came in at £843m for July-September 2025.
UKGC stats for Q3 of the 2025/26 financial year also showed returns to good causes of £50.1m from the National Lottery, coming from total sales of £45.8m – of which scratchcard sales amounted to £22.6m.
The incident shows that the National Lottery – along with the rest of the retail gambling sector – remains vulnerable to fraudster activity amid the extensive revamp of its systems, a requirement of Allwyn’s management of the lottery under the fourth 10-year licence.