Online gaming fraud is any activity undertaken by an individual, group, or even company, to deceptively alter the outcome of a game. This can be committed by unscrupulous websites, ensuring their players have no chance of winning or by unexpectedly taking money from players.
However, players themselves can also be guilty of fraudulent activities, for example, to extract bonuses from gaming websites. Third-party referrers and referral websites may also use fraudulent actions to effectively take money from players or gaming websites.
Evaluate Sites
Fraud is common in the online gaming industry, primarily because of the large sums of money involved. This is especially a problem in iGaming, or online gambling, as players typically provide their bank or credit card details and there are large sums of money involved. Players can reduce the risk of fraud by using non-fraud sites and gaming that have detailed terms and guidelines while providing bonuses and offers to new players (source: https://www.business2community.com/th-th/gambling/no-fraud-betting-sites). According to iGaming expert Narathip, bonuses give players the opportunity to try out different games to determine whether they are legitimate.
Check Site Credentials
Any website that requires you to deposit money or send payment should be licensed and accredited. In the case of iGaming websites, look for a license from the gambling authority in the region they are located. This might be the Gambling Commission in the UK, the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, or the Malta Gaming Authority. And don’t just take a website’s word for it. Visit the authority’s website and search for the online gaming to ensure that the license is valid and real.
Check User Reviews
Even a license doesn’t guarantee you can completely avoid fraud. Check user reviews on websites like Google Reviews and Trustpilot. Most sites will have some negative reviews from disgruntled users, but you should be able to read between the lines of these. Review fraud is also a problem, however, so you need to check reviews are genuine. If they all use similar wording or there is a sudden burst of reviews at once, this can be a sign that the site has paid for fake reviews.
Ensure An HTTPS Web Address
Around 80% of all websites use HTTPS protocol as standard, which ensures all data sent between the end user and the website itself is encrypted before being transferred. This means your data, whether it is your crypto wallet address or your bank details, are safe from being stolen or hacked. Most browsers identify sites that do not use this protocol but, if yours doesn’t, you can look at the URL of the site. Avoid those with HTTP at the beginning and use those with HTTPS prefixes.
Check The Quality Of The Site
Some fraudulent sites are set up quickly and aim to extort as much money or as many personal details as possible in a short period before they get taken down. These sites can sometimes be identified by broken links, missing images, and generally poor-quality design. However, it is relatively easy to clone existing websites, which means a fraudulent site could look exactly the same or very similar to well-known sites. Carefully check the URL and ensure the company data matches any license and registration details.
Look For Customer Support Details
Check for customer support details on the site, and try to ensure they’re legitimate. Hopefully, you’ll never need those details, but if you can’t get somebody to answer the phone or respond to emails before you’ve even signed up, that’s a good indication they won’t be responsive once you’re a paying player. If you have any questions about licenses, payment methods, or anything else, get in touch and see how responsive they are.
Use A Secure Payment Method
As well as doing due diligence on the website, ensure you use reliable and secure payment methods. Traditional payment methods like credit or debit card and bank transfers require that you submit banking details to the site. In contrast, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even Tether, allow for anonymous individual payments, even for buying gaming accounts and in-game assets. Even if the site is hacked, the hacker can’t do anything with your wallet address. And the site owner can’t take additional, unverified deposits.
Check Your Payment History
If you are worried about fraud after registering and depositing with a site, check your bank statements and make sure your deposits match up with the money you have placed in your account. If you see repeat charges, query with the bank or card issuer and have them instigate a chargeback to recover your funds.
If In Doubt, Miss It Out
There are thousands of online casinos and as many gaming and eSports websites. If you’re considering signing up for a site and something smells off, just walk away. Move on to the next gaming website and don’t look back. There are more than enough sites for you to choose from, so it isn’t worth the risk.
