Consumer Protection Gaming Division Warns the Public About Unlawful Scheme to Defraud DraftKings

HARTFORD ­— The Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division is warning the general public a couple of scheme focusing on gaming operators that guarantees a giant payoff however may end in your arrest for identification theft, pc crimes and larceny costs.

How it really works:

• Someone approaches you, both in particular person or by way of social media, and asks you to open a gaming account in the event you don’t have already got one.
• They then offer you a bank card and instruct you to make a big deposit into your gaming account. The bank cards are linked to stolen identities.
• After briefly collaborating in gaming exercise, they instruct you to withdraw the cash and deposit it into your individual account.
• You will then be instructed to switch all or a portion of that withdrawal by way of a cost app like Zelle to a brand new account, typically held by the unique one who contacted you. This particular person retains a lot of the funds.

The Gaming Division has made 15 arrests in reference to this investigation so far, with a number of extra arrests pending.

“If someone approaches you and asks you to participate in a ‘business venture’ that sounds like fraud, it probably is,” stated DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “Participating in this scheme is a crime. It’s unlikely you’ll land a big payoff, but it will likely result in your arrest.”

“This is fraud, and a felony,” stated DCP Gaming Director Kris Gilman. “The organizers of these schemes will promise you won’t get caught, but that’s clearly not true. Identity theft and computer crimes are traceable. The message is clear: do not participate in this scam. You’ll be promised money for nothing when, in reality, you’ll be paid much less than promised, if anything at all. On top of that, you’ll be left with a felony warrant for your arrest. Never attempt to fund your online gaming account with a bank account that is not your own and do not share your online gaming account credentials with anyone.”

Consumers can report gaming-related issues to DCP by emailing DCP.Gaming@ct.gov.

If you or somebody you already know is in search of sources and assist for drawback playing, name, or chat with the Connecticut Council on Problem Gaming 24/7 confidential Problem Gambling Helpline at 1(888) 789-7777 or go to www.ccpg.org.

Information on companies obtainable in Connecticut for individuals who might have a playing drawback can also be obtainable at portal.ct.gov/problemgaming. You can also study self-exclusion at ct.gov/selfexclusion.