Protect your money: FBI's tips on safe online sports betting

FORT MYERS - Online sports gambling is booming, with nearly $150 billion spent in 2024 alone. But there's a darker side to this trend.

The FBI has issued an alert warning that organized crime groups and other criminals, many from overseas, are operating these sites. They can undermine the integrity of sports and with such large sums of money involved, scammers are prevalent.

Taylor Morse of Fort Myers experienced this firsthand.

"People online just trying to trick you to ... get money. They're like, 'Oh, who wants free $400,' and then people will buy into it, and then they'll take their passwords over and take their account over, and that happened to me," said Morse.

Using illegal sites puts your money and personal information at risk. You may also be breaking tax and money laundering laws without realizing it.

The FBI and other authorities recommend knowing your state's laws, choosing reputable online sites, practicing strong online security habits, protecting your personal and financial information, and reporting scams to the FBI.

"If you're going to do it, just do it through the main sources, the main apps," said Morse, echoing the FBI's advice.