Straight Talk: Do not fall for a sports betting scam

Better Business Bureau
·3 min read

Better Business Bureau serving Canton Region and Greater West Virginia offers tips and advice for consumers to avoid fraudulent practices.

Betting on a big game? Do not fall for a sports betting scam

Thanks to new legal changes, the popularity of sports betting has exploded. If you think scammers have not noticed, think again. BBB.org/ScamTracker is seeing reports from people who accidentally placed bets with scam sports betting websites or apps.

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How the sports betting scam works

You want to place a bet on an upcoming game, so you search online for a sports betting service. You find a website or app that looks trustworthy. It may even offer an enticing introductory bonus, so you can make an initial bet “risk free.”

You place a bet, and, at first, everything seems normal. But as soon as you try to cash out your winnings, you find you cannot withdraw a cent. Scammers will make up various excuses. For example, they may claim technical issues or insist on additional identity verification.

In other cases, they may require you to deposit even more money before you can withdraw your winnings. Whatever you do, you will never be able to get your money off the site. And any personal information you shared is now in the hands of scam artists.

One victim reported to BBB.org/ScamTracker: “I deposited money to put a wager for a sports game. I won the bet [and] attempted three times to cash out and three times it was declined. I then spoke to their representative, who said they needed a picture of my driver's license, a photo of myself holding my ID, and a blank check from my bank. With all the runaround I have been given, it prompted me to read their reviews. The website had horrible reviews and was a confirmed scam. I had to call my credit card company to file a fraud report.”

How to spot a sports betting scam

  • Look for an establish, approved service. Look for “white-listed” sports books that have been approved by your area’s gaming commission. In the United States, ESPN has a list of where sports betting is legal. Find that information at bit.ly/espnsportsbetting.

  • Do not fall for tempting ads. Ignore gambling-related pop-up ads, email spam, or text messages.

  • Read the fine print on incentives. Gambling sites and apps often offer incentives or bonuses to new users and around major games. But like any sales pitch, these can be deceptive. Be sure to read the fine print carefully.

  • Even legitimate sports betting sites have the right to freeze your winnings. Gambling companies can restrict user’s activity for “seeming to have an ‘unfair advantage’ or ‘irregular playing patterns.’” Be sure to check the terms of service.

For more information

Check out BBB’s tips for spotting a lookalike website at bit.ly/BBBfakewebsite. Visit BBB.org/ScamTips to stay alert to new and commonly used scam tactics.

If you have come across a sports betting scam, report it at once to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help other consumers avoid falling prey to scammers’ tricks.

For BBB information, visit BBB.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips and find events.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: BBB offers advice on not falling for sports betting scams