The Arizona Department of Gaming has warned players that scam calls related to gaming are increasing in Arizona and nearby states.
The gaming regulator highlighted that “legitimate organizations such as the ADG, its partner tribal gaming regulators and national gaming regulatory agencies will never call a patron to alert them of a ‘win’ or ‘sweepstakes.’ ” Additionally, a press release highlighted that legitimate state gaming operators would never call to inform someone of taxes or fees owed to the state or the IRS.
The ADG highlighted two types of common gaming scams: “business, government or job impersonator” scams and “you’ve won” scams. A “business, government or job impersonator” scam pretends to be a trustworthy party and encourages you to send money, usually claiming your money is at risk. A “you’ve won” scam, you might receive a call, text, email or mail to say you’ve won a prize. During a call, the scammer will inform you of some fees and taxes needed before you can claim your rewards.
To help combat gaming scams, the ADG outlined tips for spotting and combating gaming scams:
- Report suspicious activity
- Don’t share your personal information over the phone
- Don’t make payments in crypto
- Be skeptical
- Verify information
The ADG has recently focused on safe and responsible gambling, releasing a guide to safe NFL betting in the build-up to the 2024 season.
