David “DJ” Gardiner, a 65-year-old snooker enthusiast from Kettering, Northamptonshire, recently faced a devastating loss after falling victim to an online bet scam. He had placed a £100 bet at odds of +1200 on Kyren Wilson to win the Snooker World Championship. His gamble paid off when Wilson defeated Jak Jones on May 6, and celebrated his £1,300 ($1,651) winnings.
Warn others out there
David ‘DJ’ Gardiner
However, his joy was short-lived. When Gardiner visited a Coral retail sportsbook to collect his prize, he was informed that someone had already claimed it just half an hour earlier, 100 miles away in Stoke-on-Trent. Shocked and disappointed, he realized that a scammer had obtained his ticket information from a Facebook post.
The risk of sharing betting slips online
David had shared his excitement and winnings on the World Snooker Tour Facebook page, including a screenshot of his betting slip. The scammer used this information to cash in the slip at a Coral branch in Stoke-on-Trent. The surveillance footage from the store showed a man scanning the slip, placing a £200 bet from it, and withdrawing the remaining £1,100.
“I was mortified but it’s my own fault. I just didn’t think,” Gardiner told the Daily Mail. “It was probably just the excitement getting to me knowing he was about to make the final. I posted it when he was on the brink of winning his semi-final.” a former Army veteran who had to give up his limousine business to care for his father, was hoping to use the winnings to help get his father’s house ready to sell after his passing just before Christmas.
Gardiner now wants to warn others about the dangers of sharing betting slips online. “Everyone is posting pictures of their bets on Facebook so people need to be aware this can be done,” he said. “Anybody on a phone could take a picture over someone’s shoulder and then scan that – it’s got to be a loophole in security.”
Coral, part of the Entain group, advises customers to keep their betting slips secure and to avoid sharing them with anyone, whether in person or digitally. Gardiner’s experience underscores the importance of protecting personal information and betting records.
Despite David’s request for Coral to pay out the bet as a gesture of goodwill, given the circumstances, the company declined. “I find that disgraceful from a company making millions of pounds,” He added. “They have given my winnings to somebody else.”
He reported the incident to the police and was referred to Action Fraud. Pauline Smith, head of Action Fraud, said, “It has been recorded on our system as an information report. An information report can be made when a fraud has not been committed or there is suspicion of criminal intent.”
This incident highlights the significant financial losses that can occur from sharing sensitive information online. The scammer exploited Gardiner’s momentary lapse in judgment, emphasizing the need for vigilance and privacy in the digital age. Entain urges bettors to be cautious and think twice before sharing their winnings or betting slips online.
Prioritizing security is essential, as carelessness can lead to costly consequences. Gardiner’s experience serves as a stark reminder for all gamblers to safeguard their personal information to avoid falling victim to similar scams.