The red-flag meter
Tick every statement that applies to the site, agent or offer you are looking at. Each flag has a weight based on how strongly it is associated with confirmed fraud: payment to private accounts and advance fees score highest, design mistakes lowest. The tool is a prompt to slow down, not a verdict.
Scam risk meter
Runs in your browser and saves nothing.
Why these twelve signs
Payments that bypass the operator
If money is supposed to reach a betting account, it has to travel through channels that the operator controls or has verified. A personal bank account, a mobile-money number or a crypto wallet that belongs to an individual breaks that chain. It also removes your ability to dispute the payment, which is why these two flags carry the most weight.
Advance fees
Fraud that starts with "you won, now pay" depends on one thing: the victim believes the winnings are real. The fee is the real product. No bookmaker with its own payment system needs you to send money to receive money.
Pressure and unsolicited contact
Time pressure is a social-engineering tool. A genuine agent or support representative does not mind if you take an hour to check an identity. If the other person does, treat that as the answer.
Missing identity and licence information
A trustworthy operator can say who it is, where it is registered and which authority licenses it. A licence number on a website is a claim; the register that issued it is the proof. If neither can be found, you are dealing with an anonymous party.
Guaranteed wins and fixed matches
Because prices include a built-in margin, no strategy can guarantee profit from a bookmaker's odds. A "fixed match" is almost always a lure for a paid-tips channel. Our verdict page explains why honest answers about live odds sound less exciting than that.
Permission abuse
Apps that read SMS can capture one-time codes. Apps that use accessibility services can read your screen and tap buttons on your behalf. Neither is needed to place a bet.
| Flag | Genuine business behaviour | Fraud behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Payments | Cashier inside your account, receipts, named method | Private accounts, crypto to individuals, changing details |
| Contact | You start the conversation through official channels | Someone messages you first with an opportunity |
| Terms | Published and dated, with wagering and withdrawal rules | No terms, or terms that change by chat |
| Identity | Legal entity, address, licence reference you can check | No entity or a logo of a regulator with no link to its register |
| Speed | Calm, allows you to verify | Urgent, closes the deal in minutes |
How to use the score
- Stop (55+): treat it as a scam until you can prove otherwise independently. Do not deposit, do not send documents.
- Pause and verify (28 to 54): several signs are present. Find the legal entity, check the register and confirm the exact domain through a channel you already trust.
- Low pattern risk (under 28): keep verifying. A low score means you have not seen the common patterns, not that the party is honest.
Green flags that matter more than design
- You can reach the site through the official app or a link you already trust.
- The legal entity and licence reference match the licensing authority's register.
- The cashier lives inside your signed-in account and issues a receipt.
- Terms are dated, clear and give a way to complain, including a named dispute route.
- Support answers in writing, from channels linked inside the app or site.
Use the address checker for the domain, this meter for the offer and the agent checklist for any intermediary. Three independent checks catch far more than any single one.
What to do if the meter says stop
- Do not argue with the other party; leave the conversation and save it first.
- If you paid, contact your bank or card issuer at once.
- Report the profile, number or site to the platform it came from.
- Write the dated evidence file and follow the complaint steps.
Frequently asked questions
What are the signs of a betting scam?
Payments to private accounts, advance fees to release winnings, unsolicited contact with pressure, missing licence and company information, guaranteed wins and apps that ask for SMS or accessibility permissions.
Is a licence logo enough proof?
No. A logo is a claim. Search the licensing authority's own register for the legal entity and licence number.
Can a scam site have good reviews?
Yes. Reviews are easy to fake and copy. Look for dated, specific, independent reports and verify the operator through the register.
What should I do if I tick many boxes?
Stop, do not deposit or send documents, verify through independent channels and, if you already paid, contact your bank at once.