Summary
- A new scam is targeting Mississippi residents.
- Scammers distribute fraudulent bonuses and signup offers for imaginary sportsbooks.
- The so-called betting platforms adopt the branding of well-known local brick-and-mortar businesses.
Mississippi is currently facing a silent threat: scammers posing as legitimate sportsbooks are attempting to deceive people into joining online betting platforms they falsely claim are operated by licensed and regulated entities within the state.
Mississippi targeted by a wave of sportsbook scams
Many of the impersonated properties are actually legitimate, licensed operators in Mississippi. However, sports wagering is strictly regulated in the state, allowing bets only at physical locations. So, can you place sports bets online? No, you can't—not legally or officially. According to a report by Fox 10 News, scammers have been promoting fake sportsbooks online, enticing users with offers like $1,500 upon sign-up and additional deposit bonuses. Some specific properties, such as the Golden Nugget, have been mentioned in these scams. Chett Harrison, the General Manager and Vice President of Golden Nugget, expressed surprise at the convincing nature of these schemes. Even he had to closely examine an email to recognize it as fraudulent. Scammers are targeting residents with mail offers containing phishing links that lead to fake online gambling sites in the state. It's challenging, Harrison noted. I've seen some where I couldn't even spot the altered email address until I took a closer look. He reminded consumers that online sports betting remains illegal in Mississippi, as does any solicitation to spend money on online gambling platforms masquerading as licensed entities. Despite efforts from regulators and gambling companies to eradicate these scams, they persist. Scammers rely on making their emails convincing enough to take recipients by surprise, prompting them to click on malicious links.
