How to Spot an Online Casino Scam
With people spending increasing amounts of time online, scammers are taking advantage of this and intensifying their online scam efforts. But if you follow a few basic rules, you can keep yourself, your money, and your data safe by spotting online casino scams.
What is an Online Casino Scam?
Playing at online casinos isn’t inherently dangerous, but it is important to be aware of common scams. This article will help you know how to spot an online casino scam. You may have heard a lot about scam online casinos, these sound scary but the good news is that they are not that common.
Something which is more common is online casino scams. So, what’s the difference? A scam online casino is a fake casino that looks real and tries to trick people into depositing money with them. An online casino scam can come in many different forms and we will explore this in further detail below.
There is a lot of fearmongering regarding being scammed online, but if you use common sense and take steps to protect yourself you should not be taken in by a scam. It’s also worth noting that some of these scams happen offline too. There is a risk when gambling online, but there is also a risk when ordering products online.
As you can see above, this guide will discuss how to identify the scam signs or red flags to look out for. We will go into detail about some common online casino scams and possible ways to avoid them. Finally, we will highlight how to report a scam if you do fall victim to one.
The Most Common Online Casino Scam
There’s always a risk when you’re online that the person or company you think you’re dealing with is not who they say they are. There are many examples of an online casino scam but the most common one involves scammers using names that you trust to try to get information and money out of you.
So, if you get contacted by someone who seemingly works for one of your favourite online casinos, it’s always wise to take some time and check if the contact information is legit. Also keep in mind that companies will never ask for your sensitive information such as account passwords.
Warning Signs to Look For
Data shows that in 2021 UK victims lost £1.3bn through online fraud. It’s clearly a prevalent issue and can happen in any industry, online casino fraud is not the only avenue for scammers, but it is what we will focus on here.
We are going to cover how to identify an online casino scam. If you know the online casino scam signals, you have a better chance of arming yourself against them. So, if you receive communication supposedly from an online casino pay attention to the following:
4 Red Flags of Online Casino Scams
- Is there a sense of urgency? Demanding information quickly is often a red flag. Fraudsters don’t want to give you time to think and want to get the information before you realise something is wrong. Don’t ever be pressured into acting quickly when it comes to your money or personal information. The obvious exception here is players looking to withdraw casino funds quickly, which is advisable over leaving funds in your casino wallet for extended periods of time.
- Is the communication coming out of the blue? If you weren’t expecting a message from this online casino, it could be suspicious.
- Are they asking for sensitive or personal information – like your bank details or passwords to your online casino account? This is a huge red flag.
- Is there pressure to get you to pay through unusual or untrusted payment methods? Big red flag, particularly if these methods are untraceable, such as vouchers or transfer services like Western Union. If trusted payment options such as PayPal aren’t available, play elsewhere.
Examples of Common Online Casino Scams
Below we have highlighted the most common online casino scams you may come across. This list is by no means exhaustive but highlights some of the most prevalent ones. Unfortunately, scammers are always innovating as technology develops, and scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. But they all revolve around one aim, trying to get sensitive information from you.
Phishing / Impersonation Scams
First up and most common is phishing. Phishing is a type of cyber-attack also known as an impersonation scam. Scammers will contact you pretending to be someone that you trust, including companies you trust, all with the aim of getting sensitive information from you so they can take your money.
In relation to online casinos, you could receive an email or text message that looks like it’s from your favourite online casino asking for your account information, but in reality it’s coming from a scammer. Here are some ways you can spot an online casino scam:
4 Common Signs of a Phishing Scam
- A big clue can be if the message is littered with spelling and grammar errors
- Check the sender, this is a particular giveaway when it comes to email. It may look like it comes from your favourite trusted casino at first glance, but once you check the email address it won’t be the official one, it will often be some random string of numbers and letters
- The message is asking for sensitive information such as your PIN number or account passwords
- The message is threating, maybe they threaten legal action if you don’t reply or send the information they need quickly
The above list is not exhaustive, but it is a good summary of some online casino scam signs. The bottom line is if you receive any communication from an online casino that makes you suspicious, be wary and chase it up.
We also have information on staying safe from sports betting scams, including phishing and identity fraud.
How to Avoid Phishing
A good hard and fast rule is to never give out private, personal information. This includes information such as your bank details or passwords, no company should ever be asking for these. Also, do not reply to text messages or emails if you can’t be sure they’re genuine.
If you are unsure if a message is really coming from a trusted online casino, we recommend that you verify this by contacting the casino directly. This is easily done, just contact the casino through the official means they advertise on their website, whether this is by phone, email or live chat. We delve deeper into this topic and many other aspects in our article on avoiding online casino scams.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is nothing new, but with all the benefits technology has given us, it has also created more opportunities for scammers. If fraudsters have your personal information, they can set up an online casino account in your name and play using your identity and your money.
One of the biggest casino cons in history involved the theft of personal data. In the late-Nineties, the Roselli Brothers stole millions from casinos with sophisticated hacking techniques, using the identities of many unsuspecting victims caught up in the scam.
Scammers in possession of a stolen bank card can also use online casinos as an easy way to quickly drain the card. The scary thing about this is that it can happen fast, they just need to open an account, deposit funds and then cash out.
How to Avoid Identity Theft
This can be avoided if you don’t share your personal or financial information with anyone. This includes never writing your banking details down. Also, if you lose or have your card stolen contact your bank immediately to freeze the card. Many online banks now let you do this directly from their app too, helping to speed up the process.
It’s also a good idea to check your bank statements regularly and keep an eye out for any suspicious transactions that you don’t recognise. This can help you realise quickly if someone has access to your account details and you can then alert your bank and get your card blocked.
Malware
Maybe you’ve heard this word before and the fear it creates in people, but what exactly is it? Malware means malicious software, and as the name suggests it can be extremely harmful. It’s essentially any damaging software intended to disrupt your device with the aim of stealing information, which can be used to enable online casino fraud.
You typically encounter this kind of malicious software if you open a suspicious attachment in an e-mail. Which is why it’s essential to pay attention to the online casino scam signs related to phishing that we discussed earlier, and be wary of any message you receive, especially if they are trying to get you to click on links.
How to Avoid being a Victim of Malware Attacks
To avoid being a victim don’t click on any links if you’re not sure they are coming from a legit source. And especially don’t download anything sent to you via email or text. It can also be a good idea to have antivirus software installed, this will scan for malware and protect you from phishing attacks.
It’s also important to be aware of dodgy and disreputable casino apps too, as these can be used by scammers to get malware onto your device. Don’t ever download unregulated casino apps and always check for reviews from trusted sources and proper licensing, which for UK players this means looking for a licence from the UK Gambling Commission.
Scam Casino Sites
This is not the biggest threat when it comes to online casino scams, but it is still worth mentioning. A scam online casino site is one that is built to look real on the surface, but behind the exterior it’s empty. The aim of these nefarious sites is to get you to enter your personal details and banking information. Luckily it can be relatively easy to spot a scam casino page.
Pay attention to the design and functionality and, although not always the sign of a fraudulent site, it will likely be poor. Another huge giveaway is no way of contacting the company. There will be a notable absence of phone numbers, email addresses and a big one for online casinos – no live chat.
What’s the Risk of Scam Casino Sites?
Although possible the risk of being scammed by a fake casino site is not that high. This is because it takes a lot of effort on the part of a scammer to build a website that can fool people. It’s not impossible to do, it’s just unlikely.
How to Report an Online Casino Scam
It’s helpful to know where you can turn if you have fallen victim to a scam. Firstly, if you ever think your card details have been used without your consent your first step should always be to contact your bank. They can block your card and advise you on next steps, which might be to file a police report.
If you receive suspicious emails or communication that you think might be a phishing attempt, you can find more information on the gov.uk website about where to report it. You can also reach out to Citizens Advice.
If you have been the victim of an online casino scam, it’s advised that you to keep note of all the information you can. Any information you can remember such as who you have been in contact with, the email addresses or phone numbers, and all the details you have shared with them.
If you have a complaint about a scam or fraudulent online casino, then always contact the UK Gambling Commission. They can help if you have noticed any suspicious activity related to online casinos.
In Summary: How to Spot a Scam
It’s helpful to know what to look for when it comes to identifying online casino scams, but there’s no need to avoid playing online because of scams. There is always a risk of being scammed when existing online, but you can mitigate this risk by paying attention to the warning signs and only playing at safe online casinos that are licenced.
Just remember that every scam is different, and scammers are always updating them as people wise up. The main takeaway here is to be alert and if in doubt don’t reply, engage or send any information without verifying that the person you are talking to is who they say they are.
You can learn more about identifying and avoiding online and land-based crime relating to casinos and sports betting in our player protection section of the blog.