British Columbia Lottery Corporation warning of 'predatory and sophisticated' gambling scams mimicking legitmate casinos

Post published:March 5, 2024
Post category:News / iGaming

BCLC is warning the public about a series of scams circulating online that imitate B.C. casinos and deceive individuals into providing their financial details on illegitimate websites.

The scams are conducted through fraudulent posts and advertisements on various social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. These posts and advertisements are highly deceptive, exploiting the logos, names and exterior images of local B.C. casinos, and offering players exclusive bonuses and promotions if they register with their website or mobile application. BCLC warns that none of these sites are associated with casinos in B.C. or BCLC.

PlayNow.com is the only online gambling website permitted to operate in B.C. BCLC’s official apps are BCLC Lotto!, PlayNow Poker BC and PlayNow BC Sportsbook. All BCLC-operated social media accounts, such as BCLC, PlayNow BC, PlayNow Sports, Lotto BC and Casinos BC, are verified with a checkmark.

While BCLC and its casino partners are actively working to have posts removed, British Columbians should be cautious when it comes to these predatory and sophisticated scams. BCLC encourages individuals to be on alert when a website or app asks for personal or financial information; BCLC’s verified websites and apps will never ask for your social insurance number (SIN), banking information or credit card details online to claim a prize from a B.C. casino. Individuals can look out for other red flags, such as the suggestion of fees or taxes to be paid on a prize. In Canada, there are no fees or taxes on prizes won.

To protect themselves against these scams, individuals should carefully check the URL and domain of the website to verify its legitimacy. If individuals feel unsure about an account, post or advertisement claiming to represent a B.C. casino, they are encouraged to contact BCLC directly by calling the Customer Support Centre at 1-866-815-0222, or using the live chat resource on corporate.bclc.com or PlayNow.com.

Individuals can report suspected fraudulent activity to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or by calling 1-888-495-8501. When an individual suspects they have been victim to a scam, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre advises that they contact local police.

Individuals can also help remove these scams by reporting the posts and advertisements on the social media platform.