While the Internet has made the world an immeasurably better place for those who like to bet football, baseball and other sports, it has also given life a new line up of cons and scams waiting to prey on the unsuspecting bettor.

While listing every betting scam is well beyond our ability in this article, here are a few common grifts every punter should be on the lookout for.

The Massive Minimum Withdrawal

This scam alone is a good reason to read the terms and conditions of an online sportsbook closely before signing up.  Most people who want to bet online just want to drop a couple of dollars here and there and prefer to make small deposits.  That’s fine if the book will also let you make small withdrawals, but some unscrupulous books have minimum withdrawal limits in the hundreds of dollars.  Do your research and confirm terms with support if you have any questions at all.

The False Lotto Jackpot

This con is getting more and more sophisticated and taking on more and more forms as the popularity of online lotto soars across the globe.  Further complicating the matter is that people searching for a service for lotto online may have difficulty sorting out legitimate vendors from fronts for scams.

Bottom line: If an email notifies you of a lotto jackpot you’ve won, it’s a fraud.  If you’re uncertain at all regarding the legitimacy of a lotto courier service, keep your distance and just play your local lottery – or another game altogether.

The Big Winner Slow Pay

You shouldn’t judge an online casino or sports book by how they treat losing customers – it’s easy to treat net depositors well.  The true test of the credibility of a book is how well they handle winners – especially big winners.  Just a small bit of research of Google before you make a deposit at an online sports book could save you an astronomical amount of frustration down the line when your  big parlay finally comes in and the room starts throwing up roadblocks to payment.

You should also pay close attention to the maximum withdrawal limits at the sports book or casino.  Avoid places with low limits and favor reputable companies that allow generous withdrawals or no limit whatsoever.  Low pay limits are generally the sign of a company that is either under-funded or borderline predatory, and should be a red flag for players.

The amount of ways a player can be cheated online could (unfortunately) fill up a site much larger than ours.  Hopefully this brief guide has made the point that safety and security – and not just big bonuses – should be on your mind when you’re considering depositing to bet online.