In recent weeks, a particularly well-executed wave of online gambling frauds has taken over the internet. According to cybersecurity specialists, a Russian turnkey affiliate platform is behind the growing fraud.
Researchers at KrebsOnSecurity discovered a sharp increase in what are known as "scambling" websites in July. These are online gaming portals that lure users in with substantial promotional credits, then demand cryptocurrency deposits when it's time to cash out, then disappear with the money.
"Soulless Project"
The campaign is run by Gambler Panel, an affiliate business that publicly refers to itself as a "soulless project … made for profit." According to KrebsOnSecurity, the platform provides its partners with a completely customized "fake casino engine," which is meticulously crafted to look authentic, even to seasoned players.
Scammers are using startup-style procedures and marketing strategies to expand theft with merciless efficiency, according to Gambler Panel.
The scam operates as follows: victims are offered a $2,500 credit in exchange for using a promo code to sign up after seeing advertisements on social media promoting an exclusive partnership with influencers or athletes. After they log up, they play the games and seem to win, but when they want to withdraw, they are informed that they need to make a "verification deposit" of about $100 in cryptocurrency. Users are gently persuaded to place further bets after placing a deposit, and they nearly always lose everything.
This scam has been institutionalized by Massive Network Gambler Panel, which has constructed a strong infrastructure to facilitate exploitation. Up to 70% of the profits are retained by affiliates. Everything from chat support scripts to advertising templates to strategies specific to Instagram and TikTok can be found in a wiki maintained on the platform.
With over 20,000 affiliates reportedly receiving at least $10 for each validated deposit, the network seems enormous. A Telegram group with over 2,500 active users is used to screen potential mates. The sole limitation on traffic? There aren't any users from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations.
Gambler Panel's social media displays of slick affiliate dashboards, expensive cars, and promotional models visually resemble a glitzy startup.
The network was discovered with the assistance of a 17-year-old cybersecurity enthusiast named "Thereallo," who ran many Discord servers.
“The wiki is kinda like a ‘how to scam 101’ for criminals written with the clarity you would expect from a legitimate company,” he told KrebsOnSecurity. “It’s clean, has step-by-step guides, and treats their scam platform like a real product. You could swap out the content, and it could be any documentation for startups.”
