Sales over the Internet are doubling annually. Letters from our Top5 readers, as well as an in-depth knowledge on the subject, have prompted us to prepare this article on current scams in the world of online casinos.

Advertising on the Web is very easy with the help of automated programs such as "Bulk Email". The majority of advertisements landing in your inbox - adult content (sex, Viagra, etc.), a variety of bookstores, credit cards, pawnbrokers - were sent via these programs.

No doubt, you've received e-mail advertising a new online casino which has an address looking like:

http://394.205.32.24
http://supercasinos.com

Or an email that looks like the above illustration.

Without going as far as saying that all these emails are scams or that they direct you to low-end casinos, we recommend not to follow such links. Rather, we think the best way is to find a virtual casino via different portals or Web sites containing references on safe casinos. The process is a lot more reliable. After all, your best bet is to play it safe!

Some scammers, with a nose for fast, easy money, set up virtual casino "fronts"—Web sites that look like real casinos, but have no gaming server attached. As soon as you purchase your tokens, the Web site vanishes, only to emerge elsewhere under a new identity—another "front," ready to hit the jackpot at someone else's expense. Oyster Gaming and Elka System, two russian companies used an unfair random software to trick their customers, before fading into the void.

How to avoid such traps?

	Never enter a casino with a Web address that looks like either of the two samples above.
	(In numeric form or without the "www").
	Never play in an unknown casino that was sent to you in an email ad.
	Don't bet big money in any casino for at least the first few days.

Now, here's a hot tip that may save you time and money: check the Web site's "FAQ" to see if they charge a fee to send you your winnings by check.

In the absence of such information, don't hesitate to send an email in order to make sure everything is satisfactory for you.

Here's an example:

Payment of winnings

You may claim payment of the amount posted to your electronic bankroll at any time. A deposit will be made (A) to your bank account, or (B) the money will be mailed to you by certified check made to the order of the player's name.

You are not taxed on the money you win with us.

(A) Each payment issued to you entails a $50 USD fee. These fees are debited directly from your electronic bankroll. There is a delay of 48 business hours before your payment is cashable.

(B) You may choose to be paid by certified check sent directly to your address. This method of payment entails an additional $10 USD fee, and the amount of the payment may not be less than $20 USD. This fee is debited directly from your electronic bankroll.

As you may already have guessed, it's virtually impossible to request any payment at all because of the $50 USD demanded for the transfer. $50 USD is the biggest transfer fee we have seen. Usually, it's not over $30 USD. In the same example, the amount claimed must be at least $20 USD before you can even ask for payment. This is a total farce because it's costing you $10 USD to have it issued!

The best way to avoid these pitfalls is to carefully read the casino's FAQ and never hesitate to ask questions about their procedure!

Parts of the background image are © Juan Miguel Giralt