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New report today reveals a staggering 85% increase in online fraud with over a fifth of all online traffic now an attack

Published

4 years ago

February 8, 2022

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In the UK: gaming, online streaming and social media sites, travel and retail/ecommerce companies are the worst hit by fraudsters
Experts also find that the metaverse is already fast becoming a fertile breeding ground for cybercrime and newly defined, ‘Master Fraudsters’

A new report released today, The 2022 State of Fraud and Account Security, is warning UK commerce that it faces its most challenging year ever. Experts from the Arkose Labs Network, an online fraud deterrence platform, analyzed over 150 billion transaction requests across 254 countries and territories in 2021 over 12 months to discover that there has been an 85% increase in login attacks and fake consumer account creation at businesses. Alongside this, it identified that a quarter (one in four) of new online accounts created were fake. A further 21% of all traffic was confirmed as a fraudulent cyber attack.

“From the earliest days of online information to the rapid evolution of today’s metaverses, the internet has come a long way. However, this latest data shows that it is more under attack than ever before,” said Arkose Labs Founder and CEO Kevin Gosschalk.

He continued: “Your digital identity is a currency for fraudsters and wherever there is online commerce, cybercriminals are quick to identify vulnerabilities.”

The new report focused on a number of key themes:

The Worst Attacked Sectors in the UK

The latest research took a deep dive into UK business specifically to understand which sectors were the most attacked by online criminals. The ongoing popularity of online gaming puts it top of the list for fraudsters with almost half (46%) of all the attacks in the UK, as seen by Arkose Labs. Digital media companies (social networks and online streaming platforms) are also high value targets and represent a third of all attacks, seeing an 88% increase since 2020. Across all sectors including ecommerce/retail, travel, gaming, financial services, one in every four new online accounts created were fake throughout 2021.

Metaverse companies are more likely to be targeted by “Master Fraudsters”

The rise of virtual worlds has created new attack opportunities for bad actors. Early insights from the Arkose Labs Network show scams, microtransaction abuse, and unfair play are the top threats in a metaverse world. These companies experienced 80 percent more bot attacks and 40 percent more human attacks than other businesses. “Master Fraudsters” attack their targets by scripting together multiple tools with intense persistence. They combine bots and human fraud farms, and invest large amounts of capital, creating virulent attacks. Top attack patterns Master Frauders use to disrupt fair commerce include microtransaction fraud, spam and scams.

Crypto-fraud sees Asia overtake Russia as the world leading attacking region

In prior years, Russian attacks were more common, but in 2021, attackers from Asia took the top spot, with 40 percent of all attacks coming from this region. One in every two Asian attacks originated from China. Leveraging an ecosystem of tools and low-cost resources, two-thirds of Chinese attacks targeted registration, primarily driven by abusing free trials at cloud computing platforms for crypto mining.

Credential Stuffing attacks see a significant spike

Attacks are more volatile than ever. A single attack can consume nearly 80 percent of traffic at peak periods, and in 2021, credential stuffing spikes hit up to 76 million per week. Attack rates doubled during peak season in November, making it the most dangerous month in 2021. Bots were used almost exclusively in Black November.

The Intelligent Bot

Attackers have continued to invest in increasingly sophisticated bots. Bots mimic human behavior with a high degree of accuracy and in 2021 accounted for 86 percent of all attacks. Today’s bot signatures are three times more complex than signatures of previous years. This level of sophistication makes it more difficult to assess risk and make accurate decisions. Businesses require even more sophisticated analysis to detect anomalies and prevent loss.

Arkose Labs provides support for some of the world’s most recognized brands and platforms, including Honey, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PayPal, Pitney Bowes, Roblox, Venmo, and Zilch, covering industries, including financial services, fintech, gaming, retail, technology and social media, representing more than 1 billion social media users, 60 percent of online video gamers, and 40 percent of all retail volume.

Eastern Europe

ELA Games reports 244.52% active user growth in Romania

Published

4 hours ago

June 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

ela-games-reports-244.52%-active-user-growth-in-romania

Supplier links the uplift to classic-style slots with modern features, including Joker Winpot, as bet counts rise 239.74%.

ELA Games says it has expanded in Romania after rolling out titles that pair classic slot aesthetics with modern gameplay features.

The supplier reported a 244.52% increase in active users in Romania and a 239.74% rise in bet counts. The company attributed the performance to what it described as a “natural path” for traditional players to move into more feature-led play.

Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games, said: “It is great to see how Romanian players are enjoying the way we combine classic symbols with modern features. Joker Winpot works well for those who love the traditional look but actually want more excitement from their play. We also see that once players feel comfortable with these mechanics, they are happy to explore our other top titles which have proved to be successful in Romania like Cash of Gods and Flames Fruit Frenzy. It proves that respecting what players like is the best way to introduce new ideas to the market.”

ELA Games did not disclose the timeframe for the reported increases, which operators it works with in Romania, or how the metrics were calculated.

The post ELA Games reports 244.52% active user growth in Romania appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Belatra

Belatra Games confirms Lima trip for Peru Gaming Show 2026

Published

4 hours ago

June 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

belatra-games-confirms-lima-trip-for-peru-gaming-show-2026

Slots developer plans partner meetings and private events around PGS on 17-18 June at the Jockey Exhibition Center.

Belatra Games will attend Peru Gaming Show (PGS) 2026 in Lima on 17-18 June, with the company confirming plans to use the event for meetings with existing clients and prospective partners.

PGS, now in its 23rd year, will be held at the Jockey Exhibition Center. Belatra said it will have a team present throughout the show to discuss its slots portfolio and explore commercial opportunities in Peru as part of its broader Latin America strategy.

Alongside the trade show schedule, Belatra said it will host a private “Belatra Cocktail Experience” for partners and run a watch party on 16 June for Argentina’s match against Algeria.

The company also noted it will attend SBC Americas in Fort Lauderdale ahead of PGS, describing the event as an opportunity to meet operators from North and Latin America and present “LatAm-ready content”.

Lucila M. Barletta, Head of Accounts LatAm at Belatra, said: “Peru is an exciting and growing market and PGS is the perfect place to build on our relationships with partners already working with us and to connect with new ones. We look forward to an amazing couple of days in Lima and, of course, rooting for Argentina with our friends and partners throughout the evening. It’s going to be a special occasion all around.”

The post Belatra Games confirms Lima trip for Peru Gaming Show 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BC.GAME

BC.GAME adds BETBY to BC Engine as staker rewards pass $2.5m

Published

4 hours ago

June 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

bcgame-adds-betby-to-bc-engine-as-staker-rewards-pass-$2.5m

BC.GAME has partnered with sportsbook supplier BETBY, bringing the supplier into BC Engine, the platform’s rewards and participation model powered by its native $BC token.

BC Engine launched in April and is positioned by BC.GAME as a mechanism that links platform-generated profits and activity to ongoing rewards for $BC holders. Under the model, players earn $BC by playing casino games on BC.GAME, with tokens allocated and staked in BC Engine. Rewards are then distributed based on users’ holdings.

BC.GAME said stakers have earned more than $2.5 million in rewards since launch. The company also cited on-platform data showing more than $74.3 million in total wager and over 5.8 million bets.

Kar Kheng Giam, Chief Executive Officer of BC.GAME, said: “Our vision for BC Engine has always been to create a model where platform growth and player participation are more closely aligned.

“The addition of BETBY is significant because it demonstrates how the ecosystem can continue to expand through strategic partnerships. Every new contributor helps strengthen the engine, creating additional utility for $BC and reinforcing the long-term sustainability of the model.

“As we continue to grow the network, our focus remains on delivering a simpler and more transparent rewards experience that allows players to participate more directly in the success of the ecosystem.”

Christos Nikolopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at BETBY, said: “We’re pleased to become part of the BC Engine ecosystem and support an initiative that brings a different approach to player engagement.”

“At BETBY, innovation has always been at the heart of our business, and BC Engine represents an interesting evolution in how gaming platforms can connect product performance, community participation and rewards. We look forward to contributing to its continued growth.”

BC.GAME said the BETBY deal is part of a wider push to expand $BC utility and add more ecosystem partners contributing to BC Engine. The company also pointed to recent international expansion, including moves in Africa via Nigeria and Kenya, alongside initiatives in Latin America.

The post BC.GAME adds BETBY to BC Engine as staker rewards pass $2.5m appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.