More and more Spaniards are organizing the distribution of the Christmas lottery via WhatsApp and paying their share of the ticket with Bizum. SPC, a Spanish consumer electronics brand, warns about the most common mistakes when sharing luck this way and reminds how to do it safely to avoid missing out on claiming the prize.
With Christmas just around the corner, the traditional Christmas Lottery draw once again sparks excitement across the country. Sharing tickets with family, friends, or coworkers is a deeply rooted common practice, although the way it’s done has evolved, and instant payment apps have become the new allies of this tradition.
By the end of 2024, more than 28.2 million people could use Bizum as a tool to send money to friends and family, as well as for collections and payments in State Lotteries and Betting, among others. During December, coinciding with the holiday season, monthly transactions exceeded 100 million, clearly reflecting how peer-to-peer payments are now part of our everyday digital life. In light of this trend, SPC, a Spanish consumer electronics brand, emphasizes the importance of sharing the ticket and making Christmas lottery payments in a secure and traceable way to avoid mistakes or possible fraud. The company shares a series of recommendations to enjoy the most anticipated draw of the year easily and reliably.
· Always specify key details in the payment description: when making the payment, you should write the ticket number and the amount you are contributing so that the Bizum transaction is not just another entry in the history but justifies your participation in case of winning.
· Agree on participation terms in writing: besides the digital payment, signing a simple document or informal contract that includes basic information such as each participant’s name, amount paid, ticket number, payment date, and a deadline for contributions can be the best guarantee against possible doubts or later claims.
· Keep the digital receipt: taking a screenshot of the payment confirmation and sending it via WhatsApp to everyone sharing that same ticket number is essential. This ensures all members have proof of the agreement, avoiding disputes or misunderstandings.
· Verify the recipient’s number before confirming the transfer in instant payment apps: a single wrong digit can cause you to send money to the wrong person, and this operation cannot be reversed.
· Make your transactions from a secure environment: not all connections are equally reliable; public WiFi networks are more vulnerable. When paying or sending money, using your own mobile network or a private connection is essential. Also, keeping banking apps updated helps fix vulnerabilities, and enabling two-step verification or biometric authentication will protect the transaction from cybercriminals.
· Request payment using the “Request money” or “Split a bill” option: for those sharing a ticket and luck, one of the great advantages of instant payment apps is the ability to directly request payment from each participant. You have two options: either request money from each person responsible for the share using the “Request money” function or use the “Split a bill” option so the app automatically asks each participant for their part.
· Reject unexpected requests or those from unknown contacts: the opposite of the previous advice is falling for the trap of accepting a money request from an unknown number. Therefore, it is essential to always verify the identity of the person behind the number requesting money before accepting. The National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) warns about scams during this season such as “reverse Bizum,” where the scammer sends a money request instead of paying.
You pay your share of the ticket via Bizum… what if you win? What you need to know to claim it
The digital transformation doesn’t end with sharing the ticket, as the way to claim the prize has also changed. Thanks to the integration of tools like Bizum, it is now possible to participate, send money, or even receive a prize without cash.
Prizes under 2,000 euros can be claimed directly at any official State Lotteries and Betting sales point. Increasingly, offices allow this process via mobile phone, without cash. For tickets purchased online, the prize amount is automatically deposited into the user’s account without any additional procedures. Prizes over 2,000 euros must be claimed at an authorized bank and never through instant payment apps.
Despite all these conveniences, the ticket remains a physical bearer document, meaning only the person holding it can claim the prize. No photo, Bizum transaction, or WhatsApp conversation replaces this legal value. Therefore, SPC recommends keeping the original ticket in a safe place, protected from moisture or heat, and clearly agreeing in a written document signed by all participants who will keep it to avoid confusion or disputes if luck strikes this year.
[button url="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0506/9678/1998/files/MS_Consejos_SPC_para_pagar_y_cobrar_la_Loteria_de_Navidad_por_Bizum_VF_-_web.docx?v=1762272323" text="Download"]
