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Organised crime rings in Russia are targeting online gambling sites in denial of service (DoS) extortion rackets and there is little companies can do to prevent it, according to a leading security expert.
The warning follows a spate of similar blackmail scams seen by security consultants in recent months, according to Neil Barrett, technical director at security firm Information Risk Management.

A target site is initially brought down with a short DoS attack lasting up to 15 minutes. Contact is then made with the company followed by another DoS attack and then demands for money.

Ultimately the scam is just a hi-tech version of the tried and tested protection rackets used by Mafia gangs and organised criminals for years, he said.

"It is the online equivalent of muscle men coming into your shop and saying: 'This looks like it will burn easily'. I would be very surprised if at least some companies didn't pay up," said Barrett.

Attacks have mostly been limited to gambling sites but any online company could be susceptible, warned Barrett.

Full Article by Andy McCue at www.ITweek.co.uk >>

Sportsbook Extortion News and Updates

IMPORTANT: If you cannot access VIPsports, BetGameDay, WSSBsport, Bet19, FairDealSports, BetonGames or 5 Card Charlie, click here to learn how to get back online with your particular book.

See also:
Hackers and Extortion - It's Not Just About Sports Books >>

Denial of Service (DoS) attacks virtually halted business at Pinnacle last week - just in time for what should have been a busy football weekend. Similar attacks were reportedly initiated against WWTS as well. In both cases, our sources say that the sportsbooks in question were blackmailed to the tune of $30,000 USD each in order to halt the attacks.

So what does this mean for the average online sports bettor? It means that your favorite sportsbook may be the next one brought down by such an attack. What will you do on Sunday morning if you can't login to get down before kickoff? If you're smart, you'll have already registered with at least one other shop - preferably 3 or more. Check our Full Recommended List for a quality shop to add to your repertoire.

Sportsbook DoS Attacks - Status Report

BC Bets – DoS Attack 9/28 - Site down
telephone: 1-800-259-8406 or 1-800-263-6956

BetPanAm – DoS Attack 9/28 - Site down
wagering numbers are 1-800-469-9970 and 1-800-469-2159
More >>

Pinnacle – DoS Attack 9/12, 9/13 - $30k extortion – Status: Pinnacle paid the ransom, Site up

BetWWTS – DoS Attack 9/12, 9/13 - $30k extortion – Status: BetWWTS paid the ransom, Site up

Hollywood – DoS Attack initiated 9/19 - $30k extortion – Status: Refusing to pay ...
UPDATE 9/21 Hollywood reports that they're back online with all the gear they think they need to defend against the attacks. However, when we checked, they were still down, apparently still getting hammered. We also believe that they are still refusing to give in to the $30,000 extortion demand. Tough situation.
UPDATE 9/23 Hollywood website still down.
UPDATE 9/25 Hollywood website is up.  More >>

Rio – DoS Attack initiated 9/19 - $30k extortion – Status: Refusing to pay, site down
UPDATE 9/25 Rio website still down.  More >>

Skybook – DoS Attack initiated 9/19 - $30k extortion – Status: Refusing to pay, site down
UPDATE 9/25 Skybook website still down.  More >>

Grande – Threatened with DoS Attack – Status: Site up 9/21
UPDATE 9/23 BetGrande.com website is down

BC Bets – Threatened with DoS Attack – Status: Site up 9/21
UPDATE 9/23 BCbets.com website is down

GameDay Sportsbook – DoS Attack initiated against providor (IGW) and other books on Curacao 9/26 - Status: intermittently offline, Refusing to give in to the extortionists.
9/29/03 - Back online
More >>

VIP Sports – DoS Attack initiated 9/26 - Status: Down 9/27, Refusing to give in to the extortionists.
9/29/03 - Back online
More >>

SirBet – DoS Attack initiated 9/26 - Status: Down 9/27, Refusing to give in to the extortionists.
9/29/03 - Back online
More >>

All IGW Shops – DoS Attack initiated 9/26 - Status: Down 9/27, Refusing to give in to the extortionists.
9/29/03 - Back online
More >>

The shops involved - and their wagering phone numbers - are:

http://www.sirbet.com 1-888-621-8118
http://www.ewinner.com 1-888-777-3193
http://www.vipsports.com 1-800-606-3576
http://www.betgameday.com 1-800-386-2387
http://www.fairdealsports.com 1-800-769-5651
http://www.5cardcharlie.com 1-800-606-4386
http://www.betongames.com 1-888-426-3800
http://www.sunnysportsbook.com 1-800-893-2628
http://www.wssbsport.com 1-800-486-7040
http://www.bet19.com 1-800-888-6294

IMPORTANT: If you cannot access VIPsports, BetGameDay, WSSBsport, Bet19, FairDealSports, BetonGames or 5 Card Charlie, click here to learn how to get back online with your particular book.

See also:
Hackers and Extortion - It's Not Just About Sports Books >>