Avoiding Casino phishing scams

Phishing is a word that has become popularized with the increasing rate of Internet security fraud and identity theft. The word itself is a reference to fishing – a term whereby a hook, line and sinker is placed into a source of potential reward. So what exactly are phishing scams then? Are they contrived by online casinos and their agents, or by third parties intent on defrauding hapless players?

The answer is two-fold.

Phishing scams in the traditional sense are the result of actions by criminal syndicates. These are the actions of black hat hackers – the corrupt Internet predators – who are searching for ways to retrieve personal account information from people via e-mails. It is hardly hacking if one volunteers the information and therein rests the challenge.

How do Determine if it is a Phishing Scam?

Firstly, it’s important to know just how many online casinos you register at, or attempt to register at. If you are unfamiliar with a specific gaming operator asking for your information then a red flag should immediately be raised. Understand that online gaming operators – the licensed and registered operations – generally do not engage in any such behaviour. They will only verify information with you that you have already submitted to their sites. Therefore think twice before volunteering any sensitive information to online e-mail requests.

Your personal account information is personal. Never send credit card details or addresses and so forth to unknown entities on the web. Emails are the easiest ways of getting information without having to hack for them.

Always check the URLs – the web addresses – of the emails and the associated links you are replying to. Remember that you may well see a hyperlink to a specific casino, but upon further inspection, the actual web address will not be that of the casino you have just registered with. The way in which these phishing and pharming scam artists catch you is by way of specialized software that you download over the net. These tracking cookies are the easiest ways of determining where you have been – your online footprints so to speak!

Ways to Combat Phishing Scams

Throw caution to the wind. Don’t just assume that it’s all above board. Remember the Nigerian scams, the deceased billionaires who want to bequeath their estates to you, or the get rich quick scams for oil companies and so forth? They’re all an attempt to get your personal information and then siphon money from your accounts by using your identity.

The best advice is this: change your passwords regularly. Use maximum online security programs. Clear your cookies and your cache from time to time, use registry cleaners, spyware tools and always remain vigilant. As long as money is changing hands online, there will be phishing scams by the truckload.

Remember that if ever you’re unsure you should always contact the casino in question. Use the telephone, fax or email address to verify whether it was in fact them requesting such info from you.