How to Spot and Avoid Online Poker Scams

We’ve put together a ‘cheat sheet’ style guide on how to spot and avoid online poker scams so you’ll keep your bankroll safe from cheaters.

1. Stick to Reputable Poker Sites

One of the easiest ways to avoid scams is to only play on well-known, licensed poker sites. Sites like PokerStars, GGPoker, 888poker, and Americas Cardroom have been around for years and are heavily regulated. Before depositing money, do some research into the right site for you and watch out for scammers by making sure that your preferred site has proper licensing that is approved by recognized gambling authorities.

Hunt on popular poker forums such as 2+2 (TwoPlusTwo) for player feedback on real money sites and use their positive or negative reviews to inform your final decision. Any poker site of genuine repute should have a history of paying out winnings without issue, while shady poker sites often promise unrealistic bonuses.

The golden rule is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

2. Watch Out for Superuser Scandals

A ‘superuser’ scam is when someone has access to your hole cards, giving them an unfair advantage – they can see what hand you’ve got! The infamous Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker scandals were both prime examples of this nefarious form of poker scamming. So how can you protect yourself?

You should be suspicious of players who make perfect reads too often. If someone always seems to know when to fold, call, or raise, something’s fishy. After your exit from tournaments, look back at hands in hand histories and track your sessions. If you consistently lose against certain players in an unnatural way, review the hand(s) in question and contact the authorities. There is usually a way to report these actions either in-game or via the support tab of poker sites.

Again, a superuser will be heavily linked to playing on unregulated sites. But as we saw with both the previously mentioned scandals, everyone thought those poker sites were fine too. Keep your eyes open for suspicious actions at the virtual felt and if other online players report something out of the ordinary, listen to them.

3. Beware of Collusion

Collusion happens when two or more players work together to cheat others out of their chips at the table. This can be hard to detect, but look out for strange betting patterns or ‘chip dumping,’ where players consistently fold to each other or trap you unfairly before one player takes the pot uncontested on later streets.

If players make bizarre plays that would only make sense if they knew each other’s cards, then that counts as an unusual hand showdown and you should consider reporting it. When players play soft against each other, for example, only lightly raising with premium hands or folding to each other in prime spots to call or raise, take notes and build your case against them.

Online sites take collusion really seriously. This writer was once covering a live event where two players had qualified the previous night online. The operator in question was alerted to their collusion by the player who was eliminated in third place in their qualifier. The operator looked at footage, reviewed the actions of the two ‘qualifiers,’ and attended the casino in question to confiscate their stacks and ban them from live and online events. The affected player was reinstated as the winner, so you can trust that big brands will protect honest players and want to be seen acting with the utmost integrity to ban cheaters.

4. Avoid Rigged and Unlicensed Poker Apps

There’s been an explosion of mobile poker apps in recent years, and not all of them are legit. Some of these apps operate in unregulated markets where your money may never be safe. Signs that an app might be sketchy include:

• No clear licensing information
• No independent audits or RNG (Random Number Generator) certifications
• Frequent complaints about withdrawal issues
• Overly aggressive marketing or unrealistic bonuses

If you’re unsure of a mobile app, stick to apps that are associated with big poker brands and trusted operators where you know your money is safe. Keep the low end of your bankroll on the site in question and never risk what you cannot afford to lose by keeping big winning prizes in the site’s cashier tab—withdraw it into your bank account.

5. Look Out for Poker ‘Bots’

Poker bots are automated programs that play against you using advanced algorithms. Some bots are so good they can consistently beat average players. Indeed, in today’s game, the rise of ‘superbots’ is a real and genuine problem.

To detect bots, look out for unnatural play styles – robots don’t make human errors. To err is human; to stick to rigid patterns is robotic. You should also watch for players who never chat or take the exact same amount of time on every decision. You can also look up a player’s session time; robots don’t need sleep, although on some sites, there are humans that can’t resist the action for an extended session!

6. Be Wary of Phishing Scams

Hackers love targeting online poker players with fake emails or messages pretending to be from a poker site, asking for your login details. It happens all the time. Here are some foolproof rules to stay safe:

• Never click on suspicious links in emails or chats.
• Always log in through the official poker site, not through an email link.
• Use two-factor authentication (2FA) if your poker site offers it.
• Use a unique password for your poker account that you don’t use elsewhere.

7. Fake Poker Coaching and Scammy Stake Deals

Not all scams happen at the table itself. Some scams involve fake poker coaching or shady staking deals. You should avoid them at all costs. Before you invest a cent in any poker coach, vet them via 2+2 and/or your poker friends. Hunt reviews, testimonials, recommendations, and warnings from anyone and everyone you can. Many players would happily exchange some money to improve at poker, but there is no guarantee of improvement from a poker course.

Beware of anyone selling ‘secret’ methods or unbeatable strategies. Poker isn’t solved—yet—and no one has all the answers. If someone believes they do, they’re either ‘Jungleman’ Dan Cates or a scammer. And if someone wants to back you, make sure they are legitimate and get everything in writing—signed and sealed before playing a single hand.

8. Avoid Ponzi Scheme Poker Rooms

Some shady poker sites operate as Ponzi schemes, where they pay out winnings using deposits from new players. These sites eventually collapse, leaving players with no way to withdraw their money. Warning signs include:

• Massive sign-up bonuses with no real ‘play-through’ requirements
• No licensing or regulation stated on their site
• Slow withdrawals or constant ‘technical issues’ when cashing out

9. Protect Your Personal and Financial Information

Even if a poker site is legit, hackers and scammers can still target you. To keep your info safe, always remember to use a secure, private internet connection and avoid playing poker on public WiFi. Use strong passwords—a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols is best—and always one that you create yourself.

Keep your banking details totally private. Even sharing with friends could put your account at risk if their technology is compromised. Don’t share details in poker forums or with strangers under any circumstances. Use an e-wallet like PayPal or Skrill rather than sharing your credit card details directly with poker sites to give yourself an extra layer of protection.

10. Trust Your Gut

Finally, listen to your inner sense that things are off. If something feels wrong, don’t ignore that deep-seated instinct. Whether it’s a player acting suspiciously, a site not paying out on time, or an email that looks shady, trust your gut.

In Conclusion

Online poker can be an amazing experience, but it’s important to stay alert and protect yourself from scams. Stick to reputable sites, watch for cheating, safeguard your accounts, and never be afraid to walk away if something doesn’t feel right.

With the right precautions, you can enjoy the game while keeping your money and information safe. Now go shuffle up and deal—safely!