Someone using my details to sign up on gambling sites for free bets

anna42hmr

It is a strange one glad I noticed this thread as have had 2 emails come though this weekend one from paddy power and the other from betfair, welcoming him to his new accounts with them.

both were sent to my late fathers email account which luckily I have been monitoring since he passed away last March.  I had initially assumed spam however have been on live chat with both companies whom confirmed the email address has been used. They have both agreed to block and investigate but it seems strange as to what the benefit is.  All
of dads bank accounts and cards have been long since closed.  

I had gone down to checking the email accounts every couple of weeks but will keep a closer eye on them for a while after this in case any thing else comes through.  

ConfusedGuyHere

More info here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6376499/fraudulent-gambling-accounts#latest

nerdchacho

This has just started to happen to me this week too.. 3 sites so far. All using a postal address that I moved out of 10 years ago. The sites just accept it as a match. So, I've just registered with GamStop to stop them in their tracks. When I logged in, it was my correct name, address and DOB. The phone number has been different each time. It seems that they do also need to upload ID to all 3 sites before they can access payments (one needed it before accessing the site completely) - which they obviously can't, so they abandon the account and move on.

Anyway, GamStop has kicked in already and I'm now getting a flood of "account closed" e-mails - which is a little frightening that these sites have such slack security - you can set up an account with ease, but you try closing it again.. they want blood.

November2

Had this twice last month, Foxy Bingo and a gambling site, both emails were addressed to me personally by name and thanked me for verifying my details Contacted both sites and they blocked/closed the accounts.  I'm assuming anyone's personal details can be used to open an account if verification is merely by phone text code?

Vectis

November2 said:

Had this twice last month, Foxy Bingo and a gambling site, both emails were addressed to me personally by name and thanked me for verifying my details Contacted both sites and they blocked/closed the accounts.  I'm assuming anyone's personal details can be used to open an account if verification is merely by phone text code?

Having done matched betting for quite a few years, and signed up to literally dozens of bookies and casinos, it's really not just a case of filling in a form with your name, address etc.

For most sites operating in the UK you have to send off photos or scans of your ID (passport and/or driving licence), redacted copy of the bank card you're depositing with, proof of address (utility bill etc). Sometimes, to get your money out, you even have to provide a selfie holding up the ID etc.

Also, with free bets, they're usually 'Bet £10, get a free bet' type offers, so you actually have to pay in money initially.

There's sites operating outside the UK who don't adhere to this, but in the UK the sign-up policies Know Your Customer) are very strict now.

Maybe, in the cases here, the people trying to open the accounts get as far as filling out the initial form but, presumably, can't verify themselves with ID, bank cards etc?