COUNTY LIFE
Sports better scams are growing
Thanks to new legal changes, the popularity of sports betting has exploded. If you think scammers haven’t noticed, think again. BBB advises that you check before downloading a sports betting app or placing a bet before the big game.
How the scam works
You want to place a bet on an upcoming game, so you search online for a sports betting service. You find a website or app that looks trustworthy. It may even offer an enticing introductory bonus, so you can make an initial bet “risk-free.”
You place a bet, and, at first, everything seems normal. But as soon as you try to cash out your winnings, you find you can’t withdraw a cent. Scammers will make up various excuses. For example, they may claim technical issues or insist on additional identity verification. In other cases, they may require you to deposit even more money before you can withdraw your winnings! Whatever you do, you’ll never be able to get your money off the site. And any personal information you shared is now in the hands of scam artists.
One victim reported to BBB Scam Tracker: “I deposited money to put a wager for a sports game. I won the bet [and] attempted 3 times to cash out and 3 times it was declined. Spoke to their representative, and they needed a picture of my driver’s license, a photo of myself holding my ID, and a blank check from my bank. With all the run around I’ve been given, it prompted me to read their reviews. All horrible reviews of a scam. Called my credit card company to file a fraud report.”
How to avoid sports betting scams
- Look for an established, approved service. Look for “white-listed” sports books that have been approved by your area’s gaming commission. In the United States, ESPN has a list of where sports betting is legal.
- Don’t fall for tempting ads. Ignore gambling-related pop-up ads, email spam, or text messages.
- Read the fine print on incentives. Gambling sites and apps often offer incentives or bonuses to new users and around major games. But like any sales pitch, these can be deceptive. Be sure to read the fine print carefully.
- Even legitimate sports betting sites have the right to freeze your winnings. Gambling companies can restrict users’ activity for “seeming to have an ‘unfair advantage’ or ‘irregular playing patterns,’” reports Lifehacker. Be sure to check the terms of service.
For more information
Check out BBB’s tips for spotting a lookalike website and downloading apps. Visit BBB.org/ScamTips to stay alert to new and commonly used scam tactics.
If you’ve come across a sports betting scam, report it at once to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help other consumers avoid falling prey to scammers’ tricks.
COUNTY LIFE
Forestburg gears up for Christmas celebration
The Forestburg Community invites you to step into its charms and celebrate the Christmas season on Dec. 13.
There will be a full day of family fun activities to help kick off the holiday season. Santa Claus will be at the historic log cabin in downtown Forestburg from 3-5 p.m. to visit with the kids.
Forestburg Baptist Church will serve smores at the Christmas tree throughout the day. At Life Church from 11:30 to 2:30 p.m. there will be cookie decorating/fudge and wreath contests.
Stroll over to the community center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy the bake shop and kid’s activities. There also will be a chili cookoff from noon to 1 p.m. so come cheer on your favorite.
At the community fire hall take part in a cornhole tourney at noon with a $20 buy-in. The members of the Methodist church have planned an afternoon of bingo from 1-3 p.m.
Visit the live nativity at 6 p.m. at the Christmas tree, followed by the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. The lighted parade will follow at 7 p.m. Guests can then enjoy a dance at the fire all after the parade.
Throughout the day there will be bounce houses at the cabin, food and shopping vendors, live music at the tree and Christmas movies at the community center. Bring the entire family and enjoy the day.
Pictured – Forestburg student council and National Honor Society members helped decorate the community preparation for Saturday’s events.
COUNTY LIFE
Clubs to lay holiday wreaths Saturday
Members of the Bowie Amity Club and Maids & Matrons Club of Bowie are preparing for the Wreaths Across America at 11 a.m. on Dec. 13 where live Christmas wreaths will be laid on the graves of veterans at Elmwood Cemetery.
The public is invited to attend and help the club members lay the wreaths across the cemetery.
Wreaths Across American remembers and honors veterans across the nation through the laying of remembrance wreaths on the graves of the country’s fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each one aloud as the wreaths is laid.
Many families have made this a holiday tradition to lay a wreath and take part in this special program honor veterans.
COUNTY LIFE
Bowie welcomes Christmas in a big way
Winter’s chill and an eerie fog may have hung over Saturday’s 34th annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, but the community and parade participants shared the holiday spirit throughout the route.
Cindy Roller, executive director for Bowie Community Development which hosts the festival activities, laughed Monday morning that many parade-goers said the fog “created a holiday glow” for the event. There were 48 entries, but she added there were many more for example the jeep club had one entry with multiple vehicles.
Sip and Stroll welcomed lots of shoppers to downtown Bowie Saturday night as 27 participating vendors welcomed guests. Pancakes with Santa served about 350, while Elfin Magic provided fun for the all the families.
(Pictured above, photo by Justyne Roller0 Sister Act Connection claimed the Sweepstakes Award with their massive, colorful float, “I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” The lighted hippo filled the float.
First place community went to Southside Baptist Church and second place to St. Jerome Catholic Church.
First place business went to Select Ready Mix with the Grinch riding on the back of a cement mixer. Pigg Towing took second place business.
The First Responder Award went to Montague Volunteer Fire Department. First place best decorated vehicle went to Jeepsy Soul Jeep and second to Angelia Richardson in second place.
Read the full story and see lots more photos in your Thursday Bowie News.


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