Uruguay’s La Banca Warns of Identity Theft in Social Media Ads Promoting Illegal Online Casino

The Uruguayan bank La Banca de Quinielas has received an official warning after finding fraudulent ads on Facebook and Instagram with its name using the name “La Banca Casino” and promoting an unauthorized online casino.

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The state-run operator says the campaign illegally appropriated its name, logo and official store images to give the impression of legitimacy. The state-regulated operator claims the campaign misappropriated its name, logo and images of official retail stores to appear legitimate. The ads also included fake prizes and bogus endorsements from purported winners to divert traffic to the illegal gambling sites by using in-ad links.

La Banca said that neither the casino advertised nor the promotional information is affiliated with its licensed activities.

Public Advised to Verify Official Platforms

The problem with identity theft follows a public awareness campaign that La Banca had undertaken about the dangers of playing online gambling sites that are not regulated. The campaign, called ‘We Say NO CHANCE to Illegal Gambling’, is designed to raise consumer awareness on how illegal providers try to tempt consumers.

With the detection of the fraudulent ads, La Banca reminded the public that any ad or promotion that carries the name “La Banca Casino” is not the organization’s and has not been authorized.

The operator also recommended not downloading applications, providing personal data or banking information, or making payments on sites or platforms that are not in its domains. The organization also confirmed that it is collaborating with technological companies and the necessary authorities to delete the fraudulent content from social media.

Uruguay Expands Enforcement with Artificial Intelligence

As Uruguay steps up its fight against illegal online betting, the case comes to the surface. A few days ago, the National Directorate of Lotteries and Pools (DNLQ) announced that it will introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to bolster the identification and surveillance of illegal online gambling sites.

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The AI will constantly scan websites and social media to detect illegal operators and ads, and profiles offering/encouraging illegal gambling activity, DNLQ director Marcelo Visconti said.

Authorities have identified and blocked a few thousand websites already for illegal gambling. Digital monitoring has also been useful in identifying illegal land-based gambling activities, after which they were referred for joint enforcement with the National Directorate of Casinos.

Illegal Gambling Remains a Growing Challenge

The proliferation of illegal online gambling is one of Uruguay’s biggest challenges in regulating the industry. The proliferation of unlicensed platforms on digital channels has created a new challenge to enforcement and an issue around consumer protection and the criminal use of online gambling services.

Visconti commented on the situation, saying: “The greatest concern is not the revenue lost because of illegal activity, but what can be generated through the unlawful use of that tool.”

The case is another instance of how identity theft, deceptive advertising, and unlawful online gambling operations are closely linked issues in the regulated gaming markets in Latin America as regulators persist in tightening up their oversight and gaming is increasingly being made possible by technology.

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Source: SBC Noticias