[citlec]

I need some help from SBR or the forum members regarding a book I've been with for about 5 years.
I sent my documents to them when I opened my account then they asked for them again about a year later when they introduced KYC which I happily did. I then sent a new set of documents in 2007 when I had a change of address.
Now here is the problem, the KYC team at this book now want proof of my income or a copy of a wage slip or tax form but surely that's breach of privacy laws or data protection and has nothing to do with them.
I'm out of work so can't provide this information but they now say they want to know the source of my deposit to them.

Help would be great and I'm from the UK.

[Chopsticks]

Is this a spreadbetting company, italian or australian bookie or something?

Demanding a copy of wage slip or tax forms sounds a bit harsh. Surely there are other ways for them to verify your address, as I imagine that is what they really want to do. A utility bill should do the trick.

I think some italian bookies can ask for tax forms, and spreadbetting companies will obviously check your credit information but I am pretty sure they do that without you sending them anything.

[DukeJohn]

I need some help from SBR or the forum members regarding a book I've been with for about 5 years.
I sent my documents to them when I opened my account then they asked for them again about a year later when they introduced KYC which I happily did. I then sent a new set of documents in 2007 when I had a change of address.
Now here is the problem, the KYC team at this book now want proof of my income or a copy of a wage slip or tax form but surely that's breach of privacy laws or data protection and has nothing to do with them.
I'm out of work so can't provide this information but they now say they want to know the source of my deposit to them.

Help would be great and I'm from the UK.

WOW, that is a lot of information. I have never had to do anything like that. Proof of Income? are you applying for a credit account?

Note: I am from the US.

[citlec]

I've already sent them proof of address, my ID a number of times over the years and my account is Verified. I'm not applying for a credit account or a spread betting account like I said I've been with them about 5 years.

[Toit]

I'm very curious which book this is, never had requests like this myself.

What method do you use to deposit?

[citlec]

I deposit by Moneybookers. I'm sure I've sent them a screenshot of my Moneybookers page. I have done that for a few books who requested it before.

[DukeJohn]

I deposit by Moneybookers. I'm sure I've sent them a screenshot of my Moneybookers page. I have done that for a few books who requested it before.

About a year ago I changed my address at all the books I am at and not one asked for anything, that I recall. However, I only bet at B rated or higher books.

[Toit]

I deposit by Moneybookers. I'm sure I've sent them a screenshot of my Moneybookers page. I have done that for a few books who requested it before.

Maybe they are trying to find out if the money you win with them goes straight to Betfair.
Would be a bit silly though, it's easy to mask other transfers.

[Hareeba!]

Unless you are asking for a credit facility, no book should need to ask you for that information.

Never heard of it before.

I suspect some sort of misunderstanding here.

Did they specifically ask for that or are they simply examples of what you could provide to prove your address?

Have you got back to them to clarify and ask why they need it?

[jackkkk2009]

those informations shouldn't go to any online gaming company. they have no right to know your income or tax report. only your local companies that belong to the government can ask for them.

[citlec]

This was the Email I got from them.

Dear Mr. **********
*
*
We are writing to notify you that your account: ******* has been reviewed by ******* and your betting limit will be adjusted with immediate effect.
*
As part of ****** due diligence to satisfy the regulatory requirements, we are required to verify the identities of our Members.
*
We would require you to furnish us the below document for our verification.
*
·******** Details of source of Income, e.g. latest salary statements, income tax assessment
*
Please send the required document to kyc@******** or fax to ********** within 48 hours. Failure to receive your document may result in inactivation of your ****** account.
***************************
Sincerely,

[citlec]

Note that my betting limits haven't been reduced like it says in this email.

[JoeVig]

I think you have to take a stand here. Utility bills, ID scans, maybe even the heading of a bank statement might be OK. This is way too far. I would be asking for my money if they cannot live with those documents.

[citlec]

This was the reply I got from them after I sent them a email saying I can't give them that information because I don't work.

This is part of *******'s due diligence to satisfy the regulatory requirements, we are required to verify the identities of our Members. Kindly provide your source of deposit to us for verification.
*
Please send in the requirement to kyc@********* or fax it at ********** and we will be glad to proceed with the verification process.
*
If you have any queries on this email, please do not hesitate to contact us at kyc@********* or our Customer Care team via Live Chat on our website.

[citlec]

I requested a withdrawal last weekend and got it last Monday (2 days later) so that's not the issue. This email was sent on Sunday just gone.

[Hareeba!]

Which jurisdiction?

Refer it to the regulator

[Keith Richard]

I'd be very careful this email is actually from this bookmaker. This sounds like some scam emails I have received in the past requesting personal info or threatening to close my account. For example, I know I received a scam letter from Paypal at one time.

[Mikelo]

why is this secrecy? I guess this is 188bet. You are not the only one.

[citlec]

I don't care if I'm the only one or they are asking for everyone salary I think it's wrong and a private matter. They know who I am and where I live, what they want to know next what car I drive.

[MadTiger]

what they want to know next what car I drive.

Actually, I wanna know that.

But seriously, this reeks of scam. I would ignore it. Don't even send another response. Just ignore it.

[lukahh]

you are not sharing much information here. who the sportsbook is, your avg wagering amounts etc.

if turnovers are very high, i'd understand regulators request for income source info.

[Justin7]

What book is this? This sounds fishy. Phishing attempt perhaps?

[citlec]

It's 188Bet.

[citlec]

Here is there reply.

Thank you for your feedback. As you said you are currently unemployed, so please kindly provide us with documents which can prove that you have had money and deposited to us.

You just can't make it up. Seriously do they think I rob kids of there pocket money and deposit it into 188Bet to gamble with. If I've got the money to do it then I'll do it.

I know they have sent a few people these emails from looking around the Internet so what have other people done in this situation?

[Hareeba!]

Here is there reply.

Thank you for your feedback. As you said you are currently unemployed, so please kindly provide us with documents which can prove that you have had money and deposited to us.

You just can't make it up. Seriously do they think I rob kids of there pocket money and deposit it into 188Bet to gamble with. If I've the money to do it then I'll do it.

I know they have sent a few people these emails from looking around the Internet so what have other people done in this situation?

Totally out of order.
I can't see why they have any right to ask these questions.
Are you winning or losing there?
Are we talking megabucks here?
What is the consequence of you failing to comply?

[citlec]

I'm with you I don't think they should know if I have money to deposit it to them which is why I'm not liking the idea of sending the info to them.

I've been with them for 4-5 years now so I've made loads of deposits and withdraws in that time. Maybe it's because I've made a number of withdraws without deposit but it's only because I've been on a win streak.

[Hareeba!]

I'm with you I don't think they should know if I have money to deposit it to them which is why I'm not liking the idea of sending the info to them.

I've been with them for 4-5 years now so I've made loads of deposits and withdraws in that time. Maybe it's because I've made a number of withdraws without deposit but it's only because I've been on a win streak.

If you've been winning then they clearly have no right at all to demand this.
I'd be giving them a call and demanding a full explanation of what it's all about
Failing satisfaction, report them to the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission

[citlec]

Thanks Hareeba. I think I might just do that.

[asalva]

I have same problem. They have disabled my account because they didn't received my source of income.

I sent them screenshots of my moneybookers account and my last salary (2008) but i am waiting still a response.

Maybe today i report 188bet to the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Comission.

[citlec]

I'm still having problems with them. They asked for a copy of my Moneybookers account and then a profile page of my Moneybookers. Now they are saying again they want proof of my original source of deposit. I mean how do you provide that information?

[Teddy_KGB]

Tell them your original source was your bank account and your father gave the money for your birthday By the way, it's ridiculous, what is 188bet, betting company or tax authority? Leave them, and use sbobet!

[citlec]

Thanks for the advise Teddy. What worries me is SBOBet are apart of the same Isle of Man Gambling Commission Supervision. I just wonder if they may do it in the future.

[kiwi]

Show them the account statements of the other books where you have won the money and tell them, that's your "proof of income".

Since I heared from different persons that they have been asked for that proof of income I withdrew my balance from 188Bet and for now will not use them.

I cannot give you a guarantee but in my eyes SBO (and also IBCBET) play in another league than 188Bet and I would be very surprised if they would do the same. Actually to ask for this proof could be a sign that 188Bet has financial problems and use this as a method to keep funds (from bettors with high balances) longer in their account. I know I am on thin ice here but I still didn't forget the fact that 188Bet appeared shortly after Pointbet disappeared and there are rumours from some sources that the owners of Pointbet and 188Bet are/were related to each other. So far I must admit though that everything went fine with 188Bet so consider my suspiciousness as somewhat "speculative" and more kind of a gut feeling.

[Toit]

Were there any signs of Pointbet going down the drain before they did?
Odds too good to be true, delays paying out?

188bet's odds seem to be still spot on, nothing outrageous as far as I've seen the last few weeks.

[kiwi]

Were there any signs of Pointbet going down the drain before they did?
Odds too good to be true, delays paying out?

Sure there were...

188bet's odds seem to be still spot on, nothing outrageous as far as I've seen the last few weeks.

Only small things, but for example

- in live betting they update odds clearly slower than other asian books which could cost them something.
- they have way less early odds than other asian books, observe for example when they release odds for brazilian serie
A or scandinavian soccer compared to SBO.
- Their payouts are clearly slower than the payouts of SBO or 12Bet (12Bet has low limits now but still pay out very
fast and I am sure they are financially safe as they belong to IBCBET)

There are some more details which all for their own do not look serious...