With the internet at the centre of daily life, digital transformation has created a plethora of new professions and fields that bring people together from all over the world to exchange knowledge, services, products and information online. Unfortunately, it’s inevitable that there are many kinds of fraud to go along with it. This can be anything from identity theft, online transactions, dating scams and more, all designed to fool you and take your money.

Online gaming has seen a crazy spike during the pandemic, and cybercriminals have taken aim on the lucrative industry. Cybercrime is currently one of the biggest concerns of igaming, operators, regulators and customers for igaming and betting services alike. As the business of online gaming has grown, internet fraud, theft and attacks have followed.

The Tinder Swindlers are out there

Cybercrimes are easier and less risky for to commit than physical theft and they are more difficult to detect and enforce. This can be anything from identity theft, online transactions, dating scams and ticket frauds all designed to fool you and take your money.

Any company that offers its services online in this digital world, needs to have a professional team dedicated to protect the privacy and the integrity of sensitive data as we all want to stay safe while working, online shopping, using our banking cards, online dating, booking tickets  and playing games.

Be careful with your details and there is no better example than the popular Netflix movie The Tinder Swindler and the real-life story of con-man Simon Leviev’s deception and exploitation of numerous women through the popular dating app Tinder.

In this simple guide we’ll tell you about the most common online scams and what actions can you do to avoid being victim of online crime like theft, forgery and fraud. Let’s get right to it!

The 3 most common online scams

To stay safe online you need understand how cybercriminals think. By understanding the most used scams you can easily identify when something isn’t right.

·       Phishing

This is one of the most common schemes cybercriminals run, it is mostly done be email and the goal is to get sensitive information from you. How do people fall for it? Because these emails are creatively designed, so they look real.

In some cases, the sender might seem to be someone you know. Cybercriminals hack the accounts and them send emails to the contacts, asking to visit a link or to answer some questions that will give them access to your own account.

On the other hand, the email comes from an organization you know and trust. Even small details can look exactly the same to make you trust them and access the link they send you.

·       Shopping scams

Shopping scams are hard to detect because they appear very randomly. In this case, the scam is really elaborate and usually comes as a social media ad where certain “store” is selling usually, luxury products at a very low price.

Then you are directed to a third-party Ecommerce store where you can “order” the products, they usually ask you to pay via electronic funds transfer. And after the payment you might even get a confirmation email, but the product never arrives.

·       Nigerian scams

This is probably one of the oldest online scams out there, but there are many people that still fall for it. This scheme started somewhere in Nigeria, hence the name, but currently it can take place from anywhere in the world.

Hackers send you an email pretending to be someone from a wealthy Nigerian family that is looking for partners or associates to move their fortune out of the country.

Then, they ask you to pay some “fees” to cover the transactions, in exchange you will get a big portion of their fortune. Of course, once you cover the fees will be the last time you hear from them.

You want to play, not to be played

Casino player accounts and gamers’ profiles have become an attractive target for online fraudsters and criminals who are using new technology to attempt identity fraud and theft of personal data. Other challenges to fight are game account takeover, game piracy and console hacking which can lead to cheating and reputational threats. That’s why gaming companies are using several detection techniques to detect unusual activity, investigate and monitor suspicious accounts to protect their business.

Online businesses are exposed to cyber attacks and especially igaming companies across the globe worry about “Distributed Denial of Service”. The threat of The DDoS attacks have increased in size and sophistication and the damage done have cost billions in Euro due to data crash and infected computer systems. This is vandalism by cyber vandals as website servers go down, the service is unavailable and brand reputation takes a huge hit.

How can you protect your privacy online

Actions so simple changes in your accounts and mobile devices are the first step to protect your privacy online. Now that you already know some of the most scams used online, you can differentiate a legitimate business opportunity from a possible fraud.

However, hackers keep finding smarter ways to deceit and still valuable information. So, pay close attention and take notes of a few tips that will help you keep your privacy online.

·       Use antivirus software on your computer

We know, viruses are not as common as they were a decade ago. However, they are still out there, and they can cause serious issues for you.

Keep in mind that Apple products include enough protection on their own, but if you still want to add an extra layer of security, you can fin several options available for MAC devices.

·       Protect your browsers

Did you know that websites track every little thing you do online? From ads, to social network buttons collect information about your browsing habits, location, age, and regularly visited websites.

It is always a good idea to use a browser extension that blocks ads and prevents them from collecting information.

·       Update your devices, apps and software regularly

Apps, software and OS systems frequently receive updates that offer improvements in their features and security options. These security updates ensure protection from old and new threads.

In most cases, you can set your devices so they updated automatically. But, you can always check and make sure all your software and devices are running with the latest update

·       Don’t install suspicious software

Every app or software you download from sketchy websites are a potential thread to your devices. You’d be surprised at the number of apps that track your location and harvest data from your accounts without you even knowing it.

Whenever you need a program, make sure to get it from verified sources. Stay with Google play store, Apps store or the official website of any software you might need.

Next time you install new software or apps in your phone, consider the app permissions before agreeing.

iGaming will fight cyber crime through recruitment

Prevention and new technology tools are keys to fight the growing threat of cybercrime and iGaming companies are working  extremely hard to protect themselves and their online player database.

Our team at GamingMyJob.com really understand how important it is for everyone to have their information protected and we work with companies and technology platforms which have professional teams dedicated to protect your security.

That’s also why company clients in the iGaming sector and tech industry trust us to in the search for professionals in the cybersecurity field. These roles include AML specialists, Payment and Fraud  analysts, Risk Monitors, KYC agents, Banking experts, IT security and Compliance talents. By carefully analyzing their professional profile, we can offer you the right expert to help you protect your information.

Conclusion: Your safety and privacy is everything

The threat of cyber crime is increasing at a drastic rate and the gambling operators’ business profit and reputation have been affected through various attack  while online players are notoriously apprehensive about security measures as they are naïve, lazy or underestimate the threat of being hacked.

Law enforcement can maintain order in society, but we believe increased focus on tech recruitment will create a better and safer digital environment. It is important to hire the right cybersecurity team for your company and our clients, and it means we need the right understanding of the professional profile. Our recruiters make thorough review among different applicants, we test skills and strengths while we check references to find the best match for company and candidate. Together will ensure your safety and privacy to avoid being future victims of criminals!