The list goes on and on..
Another post that caught my attention. Not about 14k, but this time for 150k. And also not solved
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/sportsbetio-sports-bet-io-scammed-me-for-150k-usd-5180294So I found out about Sportsbet.io on a forum and thought I would try it out. Everything looked genuine and the website looked good. So on 21st Aug I signed up done a few bets around $5000 - $8000... they all won and I profited about $4000. Withdrew the money to my bitcoin wallet. Everything was good and I trusted the site.
A few days later I decided to do a much larger bet but the site kept capping me on the amount I could get bet (4BTC). So I simply made another 2 accounts with my information and deposited about 4BTC (approx $40,000) into each of them and placed the bet. So at this point I had above 150,000 usd worth of bets across my accounts. Whilst the game was inplay and ongoing... suddenly I couldn't gain access to any my accounts and whenever I would try to log in, it would say "YOUR ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN DISABLED" .. so I contacted live chat immediately who told me to email a security team.
I emailed the security team who asked me for ID and proof of address which I promptly sent to them. They then sent me some security link that I had to click on and take a selfie to verify who I am. They then did not reply to me for over 5 days and simply ignored my emails. Eventually, I received a reply (which I've pasted below) which essentially said that because I am a UK citizen I should not have been betting on their site (which I wasn't aware of) and that they my accounts would remain closed and they would not return to me my balance or any of my deposits because they believe I had "defrauded them by using a software that masks my location".
This is absolute rubbish and completely unfair I believe. I accessed their site through my German Remote Desktop as I am currently working for a German tech company so have access to a German RDP....and me using this does not in any way mean I have frauded them... I have simply used their website just like a normal customer would .
I have read other cases on a forum, where customers have simply been returned what they have deposited but in my case SPORTS BET IO are just stating a rubbish excuse that I have "attempted to fraud" them by "using a software that doesn't show my IP" ..... HOW ON EARTH DOES ME USING THEIR WEBSITE MEAN I AM FRAUDING THEM.
I believe this is completely ridiculous and I am not even a big gambler so this is a lot of money that I have now lost.
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THIS IS THE EMAIL REPLY I GOT FROM THEM
Hi kwamebond14,
Thank you for verifying your account.
Unfortunately, the document received is from a restricted jurisdiction and as such we can not verify your account in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
3.3. You are aware that the right to access and use the website and any products there offered, may be considered illegal in certain countries. We are not able to verify the legality of service in each and every jurisdiction, consequently, you are responsible in determining whether your accessing and using our website is compliant with the applicable laws in your country and you warrant to us that gambling is not illegal in the territory where you reside. For various legal or commercial reasons, we do not permit accounts to be opened or used by customers resident in certain jurisdictions, including the United States of America (and her dependencies, military bases and territories), Australia, United Kingdom, Estonia, or other restricted jurisdictions (“Restricted Jurisdiction”) as communicated by us from time to time. By using the Website you confirm you are not a resident in a Restricted Jurisdiction.
3.4 When attempting to open an account or using the Website, it is the responsibility of the player to verify whether gambling is legal in that particular jurisdiction. If you open or use the Website while residing in a Restricted Jurisdiction: your account may be closed by us immediately; any winnings and bonuses will be confiscated and remaining balance returned (subject to reasonable charges), and any returns, winnings or bonuses which you have gained or accrued will be forfeited by you and may be reclaimed by us; and you will return to us on demand any such funds which have been withdrawn.
Please note that you have also used unauthorized software to mask your location, therefore we consider this a clear intent to defraud Sportsbet.io and as such no funds will be refunded.
If you attempt to open any new accounts, please note that they will be disabled at the earliest detection and any future deposits sent to Sportsbet.io will not be returned.
Should you have any questions regarding this process please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this email.
Kind Regards,
Sportsbet.io Player Safety and Assurance Team
What is the status regarding this? We are talking about 150k here, confiscated by sportbets.io
What I really understand about your last answer, if things have been cleared and solved between you and a player, then it seems very logical to me to post the update to make sure your reputation will not get harmed.
Answering that there is an agreement between you and the side (because you sponsor the site) does not help a lot. It will only raise red flags.