Online Gambling scams: spotting red flags

Online Gambling fraud in affiliate marketing is something that worries a lot of people, including webmasters, advertisers, and affiliate networks as well. The latter, in its turn, if working legitimately, does a Herculean job of making sure its partners have confidence in the success of their business operations. 

After all, advertisers want to receive quality traffic, and webmasters want to be sure that their traffic will be accepted and all payments will be honest. Thus, it is extremely important to identify and prevent fraud that occurs in the affiliate marketing industry.

But how does it all work and what are the pitfalls one may encounter when dealing with the world of online Gambling? Let’s find out right now!

What is an online Gambling scam?

In general, online Gambling fraud refers to any unethical or harmful action or scheme used by scammers to obtain money, bonuses, or other advantages from the online gaming provider.

Since the gaming industry has historically been linked to the offline sector that has long been associated with money launderers, fraud is also a common occurrence in internet gambling. Equally, it piques the curiosity of lawmakers and regulators.

How webmasters may be involved in online casino scam

In the world of affiliate marketing, success thrives on trust and transparency. However, like any big-money industry, there are those who seek to exploit it for their gain. First, let’s talk about webmasters and the ways they might be involved in casino fraud. 

In general, they can produce a number of traffic kinds that are regarded as fraudulent:

• Bot traffic
  Webmasters have long employed bots to run traffic to online gambling sites. While bots have become more sophisticated, anti-fraud systems have evolved as well. Thus, bots may pass standard technical checks like address verification and CAPTCHA, but they often fail to mimic genuine user behavior. 

• Fraud traffic
  Fraudulent traffic is another form of online scam that can vary by vertical, and in the case of Gambling and Betting, it can be less common due to the requirement of a deposit as the target action. However, scammers find creative ways to overcome this obstacle.

• Motivated traffic
  Motivated traffic refers to users who perform targeted actions solely for the sake of financial gain. They may not have a genuine interest in the product or application and are solely motivated by monetary rewards.

Webmasters seeking to promote iGaming offers often resort to deceptive tactics that are all red flags for those considering joint cooperation:

Spamming direct messages

Fraudsters bombard affiliate networks with unsolicited messages, clamoring for access to offers without providing any substantial information or strategy.

Evasive responses

Scammers may duck inquiries regarding their experience and knowledge when asked by affiliate networks, instead requesting only the link to the offer to demonstrate the quality of their traffic. This lack of transparency raises red flags.

Fake statistics

To appear legitimate, scammers may create false statistics using software like Photoshop. These fake statistics could include fabricated results from working with advertisers or phony reviews to bolster their credibility.

Bypassing anti-fraud systems

Some fraudsters enlist the help of friends or acquaintances to make deposits as the required target action when promoting an offer. They then pay these individuals for their assistance, bypassing anti-fraud systems.

Changing identities

To continue their deceptive practices, scammers have multiple accounts and frequently change their online identities, switching Skype accounts, Telegram accounts, and other contact information to elude detection.

Yellana is aware about the strategies used by webmasters to trick CPA networks in order to profit from them, and always refines methods of fraud detection.

How advertisers may be involved in Gambling fraud

While most advertisers maintain ethical standards, a few resort to unscrupulous practices that harm webmasters. In order to lower the risk of scams, here’s an exploration of schemes employed by advertisers:

• Low-quality traffic claims
  The most common type of online Gambling scheme involves advertisers alleging that webmasters’ traffic is of low quality, thereby justifying withholding payouts. Advertisers may argue that webmasters failed to meet KPIs or test caps set for specific offers. In reality, the traffic may meet the standards, but the advertiser uses this excuse to evade payment.

• Retroactive rule changes
  Some advertisers might retroactively change the terms and conditions of an agreement after traffic has been generated. This tactic can catch webmasters off guard, as they may suddenly find themselves disqualified from earning commissions they had previously expected.

• Shaving conversions
  Advertisers may manipulate conversion data to reduce the number of valid leads or actions attributed to webmasters. This can result in webmasters being underpaid for their legitimate contributions.

• Payment delays
  Adopting extended payment periods or excessively delaying payouts is another tactic used to frustrate webmasters. Advertisers may cite various reasons for these delays, but the ultimate goal is to keep funds from being disbursed promptly.

• Affiliate program closure
  In some cases, advertisers may abruptly close their affiliate programs, leaving webmasters with unpaid commissions and no recourse for compensation.

• Lack of transparency
  Some advertisers have an opacity policy and do not provide transparent reports or data, which makes it difficult for webmasters to confirm the accuracy of their earnings.

Webmasters should exercise caution and conduct due diligence when partnering with advertisers directly. Researching an advertiser’s reputation, reading reviews, and consulting with trusted industry peers can help webmasters avoid falling victim to casino scam schemes.

The role of affiliate networks in preventing online casino scams

The question arises: is there a way that both webmasters and advertisers can have peace of mind about their gambling business? That’s when affiliate networks come into play!

Affiliate networks (or CPA networks) serve as invaluable mediators in the complex world of affiliate marketing, offering impartial solutions to a myriad of challenges that webmasters and advertisers may encounter. These networks play a critical role in preventing online casino cheat by implementing stringent security measures. 

Yellana CPA network, for instance, has successfully integrated the following measures and steps to protect all parties, ensuring a safe and transparent environment:

Objective dispute resolution

We act as an independent third party that objectively evaluates and resolves disputes that may arise between advertisers and webmasters. 

Expertise to identify fraudulent traffic

The expertise of affiliate network employees significantly reduces the prevalence of fraudulent traffic. 

Yellana’s team boasts unparalleled expertise in their respective niches, ensuring that fraudulent practices are promptly detected and addressed.

Player сommunication

Open communication is fostered by our active engagement with advertisers, who then communicate with players. This interaction often uncovers instances of fraud, as players may report misleading or coercive tactics used by webmasters. 

For example, players may provide evidence of deceptive creatives or highlight instances where they made deposits under pressure.

Market awareness

Experienced affiliate networks are well-connected within the industry, maintaining relationships with major players and staying attuned to market developments. This vigilance allows them to quickly identify and respond to emerging fraud schemes. As the market tends to be cyclical, new types of fraud are often variations of older ones, making it crucial for networks to remain vigilant.

With a keen focus on maintaining a trustworthy and reliable network, we at Yellana consistently keep a pulse on the industry, ensuring that we partner only with online casinos that are legit.

Test caps and detailed traffic analysis

Utilizing test caps is another method employed by affiliate networks, including Yellana, to scrutinize traffic quality. This approach is most effective when combined with other techniques. 

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving world of affiliate marketing, trust and reliability are paramount. At Yellana, we understand the challenges webmasters and advertisers face in combating online gambling scams.

Join us today to experience the difference:

• Access a network that’s sensitive to the issues of online fraud;
• Discover a wide range of legitimate Gambling offers;
• Partner with webmasters who run only high-quality traffic.

Your success is our priority. Join Yellana and let’s build a secure and prosperous future together!

Daniil Kolesnikov

Daniil Kolesnikov is the author powering the content on the Yellana blog. Having written captivating articles on Web3 and Forex trading subjects in the past, his current area of expertise is affiliate marketing. Even when exploring many different niches for two years, the passion for iGaming is where his skills and creativity are currently directed. Follow Daniil for expert insights and fresh perspectives on affiliate marketing strategies in the vibrant iGaming landscape.