How To Play Lotto Online Safely

Unfortunately, the success and popularity of sites like ours invites predators looking to make a fast buck by duping innocent players with phony lottery scams. So what do you do to protect yourself? In this article you’ll find 14 top tips to avoid getting ripped off by scammers. 

1. Watch Out For Phishing Emails. 

“Phishing” is a type of scam, predominantly email-based, whereby scammers try to lure you in with a phony message pretending to be from a trusted source in order to steal your personal information, such as your credit card number. Often times the email will impersonate a known company, such as a bank, using the same company branding to make it seem legitimate. The nature of the message will be designed specifically to get you to take action, for example by telling you that your account has been disabled or compromised, or, in the case of lottery scams, telling you that you’ve won a lottery that you’ve never actually entered. Be very careful of these emails, don’t give out any personal information over email, and avoid clicking links that look suspect as the target site may attempt to download malware (e.g. viruses) onto your computer.

2. Use only SSL-protected pages

Before you enter your user data, or any other sensitive information required to complete a transaction online, you should always make sure that the site you are using is secured with SSL. SSL is a type of encryption that encodes sensitive data making it difficult for hackers to intercept it. When an SSL connection is activated you will see a “lock” icon in your address bar.  This is common across all browsers. Also, you’ll note that the page address in your address bar will start with https, rather than the just http, the S denoting that it’s Secure.

3. Check For Signs Of Trust

Make sure that the website you are using is a trusted one. Check for certificates from companies like VeriSign or Thawte, and ensure they’re legitimate (clever scammers often just use the logo images but don’t provide the service). Also make sure the company you’re using is licenced, as in our own case where we’re licenced by both the Gibraltar Government and the UK Gambling Commission. Legit gaming sites must have all this information on the footer of each page with further details in their about and terms and conditions pages.

4. Check the contact details of the company

 Before you make any transactions check the legitimacy of the company by ensuring the company actually exists and it’s not just a dummy website. Check the site’s contact page to see if the company has a physical, company address that matches the company name and not just an email form and/or phone number.

5. Check if the company is insured

Unfortunately there are lots of scammers out there offering the opportunity to play the lotto who aren’t in a position to pay up. In the past situations have arisen whereby players won jackpots they couldn’t claim because the providers either went bankrupt or simply disappeared. So always make sure that the company you play with is properly insured with a globally recognised insurance company.

6. Check the reputation of the company

Thankfully in this day and age it’s easy to check up on companies with some quick Googling. Check out forums and review sites to read past reviews, though be aware that some of these reviews may be written by affiliates and therefore biased. In which case, when in doubt, be sure to always ask directly to hear what other players think.

7. Read the fine print

This is a given – while we understand that nobody has the time to read through reams of legalese every time they do something online, when it comes to sites where you will be spending money it’s always recommended that you read exactly what the service entails and what your individual rights are.  You’re also advised to check out the site’s privacy policy, so you know exactly how they intend to collect and store you personal information, particularly to see whether or not they will share it with third parties – if, for no other reason than to protect you from spam.

8. Make sure there are no hidden fees

Another critical thing to watch out for, when reading the fine print, is to check for hidden fees. Also, when completing transactions always keep an eye on the transaction total. Sadly it’s quite common for e-commerce sites to try and upsell unwanted products or services on an opt-out rather than an opt-in basis, as anyone who’s wasted countless minutes looking for the “I don’t want to buy travel insurance” check box on various airline sites will tell you. So always keep your eyes peeled.

9. Make sure that your data is entered correctly

Every time you log into the website make sure that all your data is entered correctly. You should also make a careful note of your password and double-check the accuracy of your account data before finalising your transaction.  

10. Keep a copy of your transactions

As soon as you finalise your transaction make sure to keep a record of it. Print out a hardcopy or PDF of your purchase (the date, time or number of transactions) or create a screenshot and save the image so you have proof should anything go wrong. By rights you should also receive automatic confirmation via email – be wary of any company that doesn’t do this.

11. Do not give your details to any third party

It is also important not to respond to emails when someone asks you about your bank account, or other financial information. No financial institution or reputable company will ever ask for information in such an insecure manner.

12. Use a secured credit card

When making online transactions it’s better to use a credit card for payments rather than a debit card, as you always have recourse. Also, be sure to ask your credit card provider exactly what type of added fraud protection they offer to better protect you online.

13. Play online only on your computer

If you make transactions and/or gamble online then you should only use your own computer and avoid using public computers and/or connections such as internet cafes and public wifi. Even in private you should always take care to log out of your account properly when you’re done to ensure nobody else can gain access.

14. Install protection against data theft

In this day and age, with weekly stories of identity theft and frequent hack attacks, you should take extra precautions to ensure your computer is safe and secure in order to prevent falling foul to viruses, hacks, Trojans and other malware. There are lots of products on the market – some free, some not – that can provide you with the protection you need and plenty of sites that provide unbiased reviews to ensure you make the best selection. Always remember, however, that no software can ever provide you with 100% protection, and that’s where common sense comes in.

Stay Safe

Phew! Now that’s a long list! But then, as the old maxim goes, “better safe than sorry”, right? After all, it’s your money.

At Lottoland we believe in providing the utmost transparency to all our clients and constantly strive to ensure that all your transactions, and winnings, are as secure as possible. With Lottoland you can play safe in the knowledge that your wins will be automatically credited to your account. In addition, the company is insured by some of the best and largest insurers in Europe, including AXA Insurance.