Online Gambler Takes Hit: Black Eye for Player and Industry
SportsbookReview.com issues an urgent SCAM Alert, warning online sports gamblers of an elaborate scam that took one player for $9,500.
WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO (PRWEB) September 26, 2004 -- SportsbookReview.com (SBR)
issues an urgent SCAM Alert. BetCharter.com an online sportsbook (hosted by
Royal Sports), is apparently run by con artists from Las Vegas. One player
reports being taken for $9,500 in an elaborate scam. A second player reports the
same scam attempt.
Most scams reported on SportsbookReview.com involve a
sports betting website that lures unaware players into making a deposit with no
intention of ever making pay-outs. But according to this popular players
advocate website, the BetCharter scam is sophisticated, more like an elaborate
con. "This elaborate scam goes way beyond the common 'deposit only' sportsbook."
says Bill Dozer, SBR Analyst who first reported the scam.
Bill Dozer
relays the details of the scam: "The BetCharter scam goes like this. The
operation identifies their target through a free online sports pick service.
Once the player calls to get his free picks, the supposed pro handicappers, from
Vegas, bait the player with a profit-sharing arrangement. The player is promised
a 50/50 split on all profits from specific bets placed in a joint account where
BetCharter will front $86,000. The catch is the player has to invest $18k in
this joint venture. The con artist convinces the player to deposit some if not
all of the $18k into BetCharter. When the $86k doesn’t show up, the player is
told he must deposit more to meet the program requirements. When the player
refuses to deposit further and demands a refund, BetCharter announces that there
are no refunds and the deposit is forfeited."
The problem is, online
sports betting is an unregulated industry "You have to do extra research because
there are no safety nets and only you are responsible for your funds." says Mr.
Dozer. SportsbookReview.com offers a free mediation service to online gamblers
who have been taken by a scam sportsbook.
The victim of this apparent
scam who was taken for $9,500, made the following statement: "I feel duped and
will do all I can to put these cheats and con men out of business. At the very
least, keep this from happening to others."
In the latest Sportsbook
Review newswire, SBR reports that (CEO Kevin King of) "BetRoyal agrees to
resolve the activity with BetCharter (SBR Rated F-). Players and other victims
of BetCharter should immediately stop all betting activity and call Royal Sports
or contact SBR. Players should be aware of a possible scam artist that
identifies himself as "Jimmy" and uses the following phone numbers 800-288-4614,
702-528-9194."
About SportsbookReview.com:
SportsbookReview.com is a
resource for online bettors who want to research sports betting websites before
making a deposit. The website provides up-to-date research, reviews and ratings
of online sportsbooks. The mission of SportsbookReview.com is to identify the
best sportsbooks as well as warn players about scam operations.
For more
information visit: http://www.SportsbookReview.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb161862.htm