How to Avoid Scams With Promo Codes: Tips For Playing it Safe On Tablets

ByJim Miller

Nowadays, some online gaming platforms offer promo codes that can make you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. 

And while most iGaming platform promo codes and bonuses are safe, that’s not necessarily the case for all such offers on the internet. That said, when you find an offer that just seems too good to be true, keep in mind that not all that glitters is gold, and scammers do not sleep.

To make sure you don’t fall for their tricks, we’ve talked to multiple cybersecurity experts, including Jan Michalski and Marta Nowakowska, to prepare a guide on how to avoid scams with promo codes online.

Whether you’re a true veteran or just starting out, these tips will help you navigate the promo code landscape much more confidently.

Common Types of Promo Code Scams On Tablets

The most common way of scamming online casino platform users is by using promo codes for phishing, which is the most disgusting type of scam on the internet.

For those who don’t know, scammers trick you into thinking you’re getting a sweet deal from a well-known online casino platform brand, but ultimately, you don’t get your bonus, and they get your personal information.

Let’s say this upfront to avoid issues due to fraudulent activities: obtain promo codes from reliable sources, like https://sizzlinghotspot.pl/kody-promocyjne/. There are real reviews from players who have already used the codes and received their bonuses.

Additionally, the promo codes are always up-to-date, and all that separates you from receiving the reward is a correctly completed registration. 

Too Good to Be True Offers

Scammers send emails or messages with promo codes promising massive discounts. Of course, they also create a sense of urgency, making you think the promo code is only good for a short time, so you act fast. 

Of course, these messages contain links that take you to a fake gambling platform, and it all looks so legit that you have no idea how many people have given away their personal data this way.

As you probably expect by now, when you try to use the promo code, the site asks for sensitive information like your login details or credit card number. And well, the deal is just so good not to take it.

And yeah, that’s the catch — the incredible deals they promise, which seem too good to miss, such as:

  • Exclusive VIP membership for $1.
  • 100% cashback on your first loss.
  • 500 free spins for sign-up.

Plus, scammers use high-pressure tactics, suggesting the offer won’t last long, so you don’t take the time to think it through… and that’s how you give away your data.

Expired Codes

Another method that scammers use to get their personal data is with expired codes. They take a once valid promo code, and they use all the promotional materials for it to trick people into clicking on a scammy link.

For example, some cybersecurity experts that we’ve talked to gave us an example of how such a scam will usually look:

  1. Scammers look for online casino platform promo codes that were once valid and popular and reuse them in new emails, social media posts, or fake ads.
  2. Since you’ve seen this promotion before, you might think it’s legitimate and that the casino platform has relaunched it; familiarity makes you more likely to trust the offer.
  3. The scam email, post, or ad includes a link, which takes you to a fake website that looks like a legitimate online gambling platform.
  4. On the fake website, you try to use the expired promo code, but it asks for your personal details or payment information to “redeem” the offer.
  5. You eventually find out the promo code doesn’t work, and the deal was fake. By this time, the scammers have already taken your personal data.

And even if you haven’t entered highly sensitive information, these fake websites usually lack proper security features, and scammers can still gather some of your details, such as:

  • your email address,
  • your full name,
  • your IP address,
  • your browsing history on the fake site.

How to Verify the Authenticity of Promo Codes On Tablets

Now you know why it’s so important to make sure that the promo code you’re using comes from a credible source. But hey — how to do that?

Firstly, you have to always make sure that you land on the official website of your casino platform for real money. Instead of clicking on links in emails or messages, type the retailer’s URL directly into your browser.

And from there, look for promotions on their homepage or in sections like “Deals”, “Offers”, etc. If you can’t see anything related to your promo code bonus there, it’s likely that it doesn’t exist, and someone is trying to scam you. 

However, what if you receive a special offer that is limited to you? Should you automatically discard it?

Well, not really, but you need to be cautious there, as “you-only sky-high discount time-limited offers” are scammers’ daily bread. When in doubt about the offer’s safety, you can always contact customer support, and that’s probably the best thing you can do. 

Of course, you might be afraid that they won’t respond before the offer expires — fair enough, but keep in mind that it’s better to have your personal data safe than to get any online iGaming platform bonus ever.