Linguistic Features in Online Scam Texts: A Case Study on Fake Lottery Schemes

Abstract

Online fraud in the form of fake lottery schemes is a type of cybercrime that relies on the power of language to persuade, direct, and manipulate victims. This study aims to identify and analyze the distinctive linguistic features found in scam texts delivered via short messages (SMS and WhatsApp). The method employed is a descriptive qualitative approach using content analysis within the framework of forensic linguistics. The data were collected from ten fraudulent messages circulating in the community during the period of January to May 2025. The results show that scam texts typically use hyperbolic diction, imperative sentences, visual symbols such as capitalization and exclamation marks, and include the names of official institutions to create a sense of legitimacy. These linguistic strategies reveal a systematic pattern used by perpetrators to influence the emotions and reasoning of their targets. These findings are expected to enhance public linguistic literacy and support the development of text-based fraud detection systems.