Online casino scam: how to spot it and what to do

5 signs of a scam

If you see any of these signs, stop all payments.

• You are asked to pay a "fee", a "tax" or a "verification deposit" to withdraw your winnings.
• You are asked to send money to a private person, in crypto or with a prepaid card.
• Someone offers to get back the money you lost, as long as you pay first.
• An "account manager" pushes you to deposit more to unlock a bonus or a withdrawal.
• The site shows a licence logo, but it is missing from the official site of the authority that is supposed to have issued it.

The 5 steps, in order

1. 1

   Stop sending money

   Keep your money, even if you are told it is the last payment. Stop replying to their messages and calls.

2. 2

   Call your bank straight away

   Call your bank on the number on the back of your card or in your app. Ask them to block payments to this payee and tell you whether you can dispute the ones already made. If you paid by mobile money, contact that service the same way. The faster you act, the better your chances.

3. 3

   Protect your accounts

   Change the password you used on this site, and anywhere else you use the same one. If you sent a copy of your ID, keep an eye on your post and your accounts, because someone could use it in your name.

4. 4

   Keep the evidence

   Take screenshots of the site address, the messages, the names and numbers used, and every payment. Keep everything, even if it is embarrassing.

5. 5

   Report the scam

   Report the scam to the official service in your country. If the site had a licence from your country, tell the gambling authority too. The contacts are just below.

Who to report the scam to

The blame lies with the scammers

These scams are run by professionals, and they catch a lot of people. If you have lost money gambling, a helpline can help, for free and without judgement.

Message to your bank

Replace the text in [square brackets]. Keep your full card number and your codes to yourself.

Subject: Fraudulent payments, request to block and dispute [last 4 digits of the card]

Hello,

I have been scammed on a gambling site: [site address].

I made these payments:
- [date], [amount], [payee]
- [date], [amount], [payee].

Please:
- block any new payment to this payee
- tell me whether these payments can be disputed, and how
- reply to me in writing.

I reported the scam to [service] on [date] (reference: [reference]).
Attachments: [proof of payment], [screenshots of the messages].

Kind regards,
[Name]

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