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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.

Champions League

Flashscore reveals data behind thrilling night of Champions League action

Published

5 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

flashscore-reveals-data-behind-thrilling-night-of-champions-league-action

New data from Flashscore, the world’s leading platform for live scores and sports content, reveals that almost 34,000,000 users tuned in yesterday for one of the most dramatic nights in UEFA Champions League history.

The intensity of the matches generated a massive wave of digital engagement, with 18 matches all taking place at the same time on the final day of the league format.

From the football-mad streets of Brazil to the frozen research stations of Antarctica, fans across 239 countries and territories checked their phones as Benfica’s goalkeeper scored a 98th-minute header and Real Madrid crashed into the playoffs.

Martin Matejka, Marketing Director of Flashscore, said: “Yesterday wasn’t just a matchday; it was a global event and we were well prepared. When game-changing moments decide matches – from a goalkeeper’s stoppage-time header against Real Madrid to last-minute winners across Europe – the world doesn’t just watch, it reacts. Flashscore sent out over 700 million push notifications to our users as drama unfolded across the continent.

“Our data shows unprecedented engagement from all over the world, and I am glad we could bring these extraordinary moments to fans from Brazil to Antarctica.”

TOP MATCHES ranked by number of users

The drama at the Estádio da Luz dominated the global conversation, with nearly 10 million users following the Benfica-Madrid clash alone.

1 Benfica vs. Real Madrid (9,7M users): The undisputed main event. Fans flocked to the match detail as Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a historic 98th-minute header to seal a 4-2 win, sending Real Madrid to the playoffs.

2 Barcelona vs. FC Copenhagen (8,3M users): Massive interest as Barcelona thrashed the Danes 4-1 to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16.

3 Napoli vs. Chelsea (5,9M users): A rollercoaster in Naples. Chelsea fought back to win 3-2, eliminating Napoli despite a stunning “Maradona-esque” pirouette goal from Antonio Vergara.

TOP PLAYERS ranked by number of users

1. Jorginho (995K users): The Kairat Almaty midfielder trended globally after scoring a penalty against his former club, Arsenal, at the Emirates Stadium—a major talking point that drove nearly 1 million profile views.

2. Anatoliy Trubin (725K users): The unlikeliest hero. The Benfica goalkeeper’s stoppage-time header against Real Madrid sent his profile traffic into the stratosphere.

3. Andreas Schjelderup (368K users): The 21-year-old Norwegian announced himself to the world with a brace against Real Madrid.

4. Kylian Mbappé (317K users): Even in defeat, the superstar commanded attention and ranked 4th. He scored twice for Madrid, but his team’s collapse was the bigger story.

TOP TEAMS ranking by users:

1. Real Madrid (1,6M users): The “Kings of Europe” falling into the playoff round after a chaotic 4-2 loss drove massive traffic.

2. Benfica (1,1M users): The victors of the night. Their miraculous comeback and “goalkeeper goal” made them the second most-clicked team worldwide.

3. Barcelona (930K users): Solid interest as they cruised to victory and the next round.

Flashscore Global Reach

While Brazil was the single most active nation, the traffic was evenly split across continents: In Europe the huge engagement was driven by fans in Italy, France, Poland, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and Germany.
Africa’s continent showed massive interest, led by Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. Football fever also swept across Asia, with significant user numbers from Indonesia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
The obsession reached the most remote corners of the Earth. Flashscore recorded active users from Antarctica and Christmas Island, proving that even in the most isolated locations, fans refused to miss the drama.

The post Flashscore reveals data behind thrilling night of Champions League action appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Claire Osborne Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment

Two new slots from Inspired — Coin Inferno Step ‘N’ Stack™ and Mummy It Up™

Published

6 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

two-new-slots-from-inspired-—-coin-inferno-step-‘n’-stack-and-mummy-it-up

Inspired Entertainment, Inc. is thrilled to unveil the release of two entertaining online and mobile slots: Coin Inferno Step ‘N’ Stack and Mummy It Up, in the UK and Maltese iGaming markets.

Inspired is excited to unveil the release of their new two slot games, broadening the popular Cash Bank series.

Coin Inferno Step ’N’ Stack introduces a fiery twist to traditional slot gameplay with a 3×3 reel setup, five heated win-lines, and casino-themed symbols amidst a background of a raging sea of flames. Central to the base game are Cash Collector symbols that gather visible cash values, generating excitement and forming a pseudo-progressive coin stack that remains on the reels, amplifying the thrill with each spin. The thrill intensifies with the Win & Spin Bonus, where locked collectors, expanding reel rows, and resettable spins merge to form an exhilarating, continually escalating chase for hot cash prizes. For gamers seeking greater control and increased volatility, Fortune Spins, Fortune Bet, Gamble, and Bonus Buy choices offer exciting opportunities to intensify the action and pursue potentially larger payouts.

Mummy It Up with Cash Bank immerses players in a realm of ancient Egyptian magnificence, showcasing glimmering gold and timeless enigma. Nestled within opulent palaces embellished with scarabs, favorable beings, and treasures fit for Pharaohs, each spin ignites a spirit of exploration and the quest for exhilarating Cash Bank victories. The game expands its well-liked Cash Collection features through Cash Bank Free Spins, pseudo-persistence Scarab collections, and a Wheel Bonus Game that can grant free spins, bonus entry, or access to one of four shining Prize Pots: Mini, Minor, Major, or Grand. The game is additionally improved with enjoyable character reel modifiers and customizable gameplay features like Fortune Spins, Fortune Bet, Bonus Buy, and Gamble choices.

Claire Osborne, Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “Inspired is starting 2026 with strong momentum, and these two launches set the tone for the year ahead. Coin Inferno Step ’N’ Stack and Mummy It Up both deliver fun and big win excitement for players, while supporting sustained player engagement and strong performance for operators. With a roadmap packed full of exciting new content, Inspired is well positioned to drive continued growth across the iGaming landscape.”

The post Two new slots from Inspired — Coin Inferno Step ‘N’ Stack™ and Mummy It Up™ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

ELA Games

Following ICE 2026 Triumph, ELA Games Officially Releases “Wealth of the East”

Published

7 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

following-ice-2026-triumph,-ela-games-officially-releases-“wealth-of-the-east”

ELA Games is excited to announce the official B2B launch of Wealth of the East. The game, now accessible to partners, was initially introduced to the industry as the studio’s highlight during the three-day event in Barcelona, where it attracted the attention of numerous operators and aggregators because of its unique combination of slot mechanics and tabletop gaming.

The unique unveiling at ICE turned out to be a significant triumph, paving the way for the complete rollout. The ELA Games exhibit gathered industry representatives to engage with the game’s distinctive selling proposition: a twenty-sided Dice (D20) element that adds a tactile, physical sensation to digital slot gaming.

A Festivity of Wealth

The reels of Wealth of the East sparkle with the vibrant essence of an Eastern celebration. The gameplay is centered around the charming figure God Fu, a god of wealth serving as the Wild symbol in the game. He may arrive at any moment, and when he shows up, all Dice on the display spring to life, uncovering multipliers that enhance every coin visible or activate instant Jackpots. These empowered coins provide instant payouts, rewarding players as soon as they appear.

Sparking the Hold & Win Safe

The game showcases a visually impressive progression system crafted to uphold the festive theme and decorated with vibrant reds and golds. Every gathered coin also flies upward into the Golden Pot located above the reels, gradually enriching it with festive treasure that players can see and experience.

As the pot overflows, the screen bursts into red and gold as the Hold & Win game starts. Players receive 3 respins and a setup prepared to collect gold. In this intense feature, the elusive Imperial Lotus can appear, boosting multiple rewards simultaneously and elevating the entire round to new levels.

Game Stats:

● Reels: 5×3
● Lines: 10
● Max Win: x5,000
● Max Exposure: €250,000
● Buy Bonus: Yes
● Volatility: Mid
● RTP: 93.97% / 96.06%

Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games, commented: “Wealth of the East was the perfect title for us to showcase at ICE 2026. We took the classic t’Eastern Celebration’ theme and gave it a distinct twist with the God Fu character and his twenty-sided dice. It adds an original, tactile layer of excitement that players really respond to. The ‘Rising Pot’ visualizes the journey toward the bonus, keeping the excitement building spin after spin. We can’t wait for the industry to see the celebration in action.”

The post Following ICE 2026 Triumph, ELA Games Officially Releases “Wealth of the East” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.