The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has become the most recent provincial lottery organization to alert individuals regarding fraudulent online casino schemes.
Pursuing Scammers is Similar to Playing "Whack a Mole"
It’s a national issue so extensive, involving large criminal networks, an Ontario Provincial Police representative informed Casino.org that it resembles playing “whack a mole” – hit one down and another immediately emerges elsewhere.
This week, the BCLC is alerting individuals about a number of social media scams that replicate BC casinos and deceive people into providing their financial information on fraudulent websites.
The deceptive advertisements and bogus posts utilize logos, names, and visuals of local BC casinos, asserting that players can receive bonuses and promotions by registering through the illegitimate websites or mobile applications.
Exercise Caution When Sharing Personal Financial Information
In BC, the sole legal site for gambling through sportsbooks and online casinos is PlayNow.com. The official applications of BCLC include BCLC Lotto!, PlayNow Poker BC, and PlayNow BC Sportsbook.
Social media accounts operated by BCLC are confirmed with a checkmark.
In a statement, the crown corporation indicated that BCLC and the provincial casinos are making efforts to eliminate the posts, but individuals should stay alert.
For instance, the verified websites and apps of BCLC will never request a person's social insurance number, credit card details, or banking information online to claim a prize from a BC casino.
BCLC Caution Comes After Saskatchewan Lottery Corp Announcement
Authorities advise citizens to verify the URL and domain name of the websites they are accessing. Frequently, fraudsters will employ a slight spelling variation from the authentic website. Another warning sign is the mention of fees and taxes to be paid on winnings: there are no fees or taxes on prizes earned in Canada.
Individuals can report suspected fraudulent activities to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre through their website or by dialing 1-888-495-8501, or they can contact BCLC customer support at 1-866-815-0222.
Users can likewise report posts and advertisements to the social media platform.
Earlier this month, Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (LGS) issued a warning for individuals to be cautious of Facebook or other social media advertisements for an online variant of Dakota Dunes Casino, Casino Regina, or any other physical casino in the province.