There is an ever growing problem of players having their accounts hacked into. For the most part, the response from the sportsbooks and casinos has been exceptionally poor. Actually quite disgraceful. Often the response is, "it's the players responsibility to portect thier password." And more often than not when players accounts are hacked into, the sportsbook and casino usally win, so they don't want to examine the facts, they just want to keep the money. But the reality is, the security breach often occurs at the sportsbook. I can put up firewalls and virus protections on my computer. But I can't prevent an underpaid clerk from using or selling my account information. I can't prevent a poorly trained clerk from giving out my inofrmation to some smooth talking scam artists.
WHen you begin to think of it, there are some truly basic security measures that most legitamet companies employ, that the sportsbooks and casinos don't and would cost very little to add.
1) When I first log in, don't give me some stupide balance confirmation screen. How am i suppose to comfirm my balance before I even have a chance to view my graded wagers. Instead, what I wnat to see is YOU LAST LOGGED IN AT SUCH AND SUCH TIME FROM SUCH AND SUCH IP ADDRESS.
In almost all cases of players whose accounts were hacked into, the culprits logged into the account a number of times prior to stealing the funds. Had this basic measure been in place, many of us could have been spared.
2) If someone calls or emails to request any change like a change of address, or email address or password, send an email TO THE ORIGINAL EMAIL ADDRESS on file confirming the change requested.
I know in my case the thief had actually changed the meail address on file a few days earlier. Has sportingbet notified me of the change requested, we could have stopped the thief before he struck.
I'm sure there many more meassures, that would costs very little, and not inconvience anyone. The ratings that books recieve need to start taking into account the tyoe of security they offer.
If sportsbooks aren't willing to take player security and privacy more seriously, we as post up players should have the right to tell the sportsbooks that we will no longer porvide are real names and addresses. Because the risk of identity theft is getting to great. Even worse, I know one player who had a dispute with a book, and the manager outright said to him, I know your real name and where you live. you don't know my name or where I live, so you better just walk away.
I think as players one thing to consider when joing a new sportsbook, is ask yourself, what happens if this book closes down. What happens to all that player info. It's getting kind of scary out there.
WHen you begin to think of it, there are some truly basic security measures that most legitamet companies employ, that the sportsbooks and casinos don't and would cost very little to add.
1) When I first log in, don't give me some stupide balance confirmation screen. How am i suppose to comfirm my balance before I even have a chance to view my graded wagers. Instead, what I wnat to see is YOU LAST LOGGED IN AT SUCH AND SUCH TIME FROM SUCH AND SUCH IP ADDRESS.
In almost all cases of players whose accounts were hacked into, the culprits logged into the account a number of times prior to stealing the funds. Had this basic measure been in place, many of us could have been spared.
2) If someone calls or emails to request any change like a change of address, or email address or password, send an email TO THE ORIGINAL EMAIL ADDRESS on file confirming the change requested.
I know in my case the thief had actually changed the meail address on file a few days earlier. Has sportingbet notified me of the change requested, we could have stopped the thief before he struck.
I'm sure there many more meassures, that would costs very little, and not inconvience anyone. The ratings that books recieve need to start taking into account the tyoe of security they offer.
If sportsbooks aren't willing to take player security and privacy more seriously, we as post up players should have the right to tell the sportsbooks that we will no longer porvide are real names and addresses. Because the risk of identity theft is getting to great. Even worse, I know one player who had a dispute with a book, and the manager outright said to him, I know your real name and where you live. you don't know my name or where I live, so you better just walk away.
I think as players one thing to consider when joing a new sportsbook, is ask yourself, what happens if this book closes down. What happens to all that player info. It's getting kind of scary out there.
