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Gambling Chargebacks: A Growing Threat in the UK

Writer's picture: Gambling IQGambling IQ
New Cifas Research: 15% of people in the United Kingdom believe reversing gambling losses via fraudulent chargebacks is legal 
>>   Is Fraud Becoming the New Normal? Cifas and Gambling IQ take a look at the rise of chargeback financial crime in iGaming
>> Is Fraud Becoming the New Normal? Cifas and Gambling IQ take a look at the rise of chargeback financial crime in iGaming

First-party gambling chargeback fraud continues to be a problem in the UK where players falsely claim back money from lost bets. According to an exclusive report shared with Gambling IQ by counter-fraud service Cifas, the public's attitudes towards such fraudulent activities highlight a troubling normalisation of financial crime.


The study, which surveyed 2,000 UK residents in May 2024, revealed that 15% of respondents mistakenly believe lying to their bank to reverse gambling losses is legal, with 7% even deeming it reasonable behaviour. Even more concerning, 12% admitted knowing someone who had committed chargeback fraud in the past year.


The findings are part of the ongoing Fraud Behaviours 2021-2024 series and include scenarios where individuals misrepresented their identity or provided false information for financial gain. One example described a gambler placing a £100 online bet, losing, and then falsely claiming they never placed the wager to reclaim the funds.


Cifas CEO Mike Haley highlighted the societal risks: “The normalisation of gambling chargeback fraud not only damages the integrity of the financial system but also undermines trust in legitimate avenues for dispute resolution. This behaviour must be tackled through collaboration, education, and robust prevention measures," he said.


Cifas has called for urgent measures to combat this growing threat, including public education, policy reform, and technological innovation. Enhanced collaboration between businesses and government agencies is also seen as crucial to stopping the fraud epidemic.



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