Online gamblers are being warned to be on the alert this week for fraudsters who have been trying to exploit the reputation of the major listed European online gambling group Bwin to leverage a criminal advantage over players.
A number of players have reported receiving emails which appear to be from Bwin, and which claim that the recipient has been selected to enter a raffle with the possibility of winning large prizes. The email contains a link, and the recipient is asked to use the link and ostensibly log-in to Bwin. But the link actually routes to a site called Bwimpoker (note the fourth letter).
Those unwary enough to respond risk prejudice in two ways. Firstly, their log-in information is at risk by phishing, and secondly the scamsters follow up with an email requesting a deposit of $500 before the prize can be claimed, with the proviso that the player is not to log-in to Bwin for the next four days! The implications are obvious.
The gambling group, one of the most reputable on the Internet, is believed to be investigating the issue with the appropriate authorities.