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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.

Belatra

Belatra Introduces Big Bang 2, Igniting the Gaming Universe

Published

6 minutes ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

belatra-introduces-big-bang-2,-igniting-the-gaming-universe

Belatra, a prominent creator of inventive online slots, has turned its focus to the universe with its dynamic new slot, Big Bang 2.

Originating from the endless abyss, Big Bang 2 showcases a unique cascading system placed on an 8×8 grid. A successful combination is created when five or more matching celestial bodies align either horizontally or vertically, with every win causing a series of explosions and new symbols falling into position. Captivating imagery and a cutting-edge score enhance this celestial display.

The Black Hole is located at the center of the game and serves as a Wild symbol. It contains its own multiplier in the main game, rising by one every time it helps form a winning combination. When several Black Holes contribute to a win, their multipliers are summed and applied to the overall payout.

True Giants measuring between 2×2 and 5×5 can show up on the grid at any moment. Every one comes with a multiplier that matches its width. The larger the planet, the greater the reward. The Planet Rain ability can activate unexpectedly and changes an ordinary round into a significant occurrence by providing an immediate increase to all winning groups.

In every round, a Coin Spawn Zone triggers at three random locations. Planet detonations in this area emit Cosmic Coins worth between 1 and 100, which are consumed by the Black Hole that has the greatest multiplier on the field.

Landing three or more Black Holes on the grid activates five Free Games. Black Holes remain established until the bonus concludes, increasing in power with every cascade. The Coin Spawn Zone starts with four positions and increases by one cell after each spin, enhancing the opportunities for larger victories.

Hot Mode activates when three Black Holes land alongside a “+1” symbol. This mode has six high-intensity games with an expanding Coin Spawn Zone. Players can also choose to jump straight into the action by purchasing either the standard Bonus Games or the high-intensity Hot Mode. Whichever option they choose, the win potential in these modes is immense, reaching up to 10,000x the initial bet.

Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, said: “Big Bang 2 takes players on an unforgettable mission through deep space packed with rewarding mechanics, from merging Black Holes to expanding Coin Spawn Zones and win potential reaching 10,000x. This game is crafted for players who appreciate style, aesthetics, and the thrill of epic discoveries in the infinite expanse of gaming.”

The post Belatra Introduces Big Bang 2, Igniting the Gaming Universe appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Booming Games

Booming Games releases 64 Nuggets Hold and Win

Published

6 minutes ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-releases-64-nuggets-hold-and-win

Booming Games, a leading provider of premium gaming content, has unveiled 64 Nuggets Hold and Win, a thrilling new slot where players can dig for glittering treasures. Featuring a 5×5 grid and 30 fixed paylines, the game offers an impressive maximum win potential of 10,000x. Set in a mysterious gold mine with a distinctive art style, 64 Nuggets Hold and Win promises high-stakes excitement for players chasing big wins.

The game’s Gold Rush Respins feature elevates the action, locking winning symbols in place while the reels continue to spin. As symbols accumulate, multipliers can appear to boost payouts, keeping gameplay engaging and rewarding.

Adding further intensity, the Boom Blitz Hold & Win feature grants three respins and offers coin prizes of up to 1,000x. Special Boom Blitz symbols can either expand the grid to 8×8 or increase coin values up to 5x, raising the maximum win potential to a staggering 10,000x. Players can trigger this feature by landing five or more Cash Coins or by filling the Cart Collection Pot.

“Packed with stunning visuals, dynamic features, and powerful modifiers, 64 Nuggets Hold and Win delivers non-stop action,” said Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games.
“Players can chase golden rewards on every spin, while the Boom Blitz Hold & Win feature keeps excitement high and engagement strong. It’s a thrilling experience we’re proud to bring to our audience.”

64 Nuggets Hold and Win is now live and ready for players seeking their next big jackpot adventure.

The post Booming Games releases 64 Nuggets Hold and Win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Energy Roulette

ENJOY unveils next-generation hybrid live experience Energy Roulette: Hold & Win

Published

6 minutes ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

enjoy-unveils-next-generation-hybrid-live-experience-energy-roulette:-hold-&-win

ENJOY, the innovative iGaming content developer, has expanded its Live portfolio with the launch of Energy Roulette: Hold & Win, a next-generation hybrid that blends classic live roulette with electrifying Hold & Win slot mechanics.

The game refreshes the timeless 37-cell roulette experience by adding two to seven randomly selected Lucky Numbers on each spin, each capable of triggering the Bonus Game for an extra layer of excitement.

At the heart of Energy Roulette lies a fully integrated 3×3 Hold & Win slot bonus, activated when the ball lands on a Lucky Number. Players begin with three spins, collecting Energy Balls and Jackpot Symbols worth 5x to 500x, alongside suspense-building Mystery Symbols. Each symbol locks in place and resets the spin counter, with a full grid triggering a 2x multiplier across all collected values.

The bonus feature also offers jackpot rewards of up to 4,000x, adding significant big-win potential for players seeking high-stakes thrills.

With its sleek, modern design and seamless fusion of roulette and slot-style gameplay, Energy Roulette: Hold & Win reinforces ENJOY’s commitment to pioneering hybrid live casino experiences.

“Energy Roulette: Hold & Win represents our vision for the future of live casino – classic gameplay elevated with the excitement and rewards of slot features,” said Tomass Dimza, Live Casino Product Owner at ENJOY Gaming.
“By embedding a full 3×3 Hold & Win bonus into live roulette, we’re giving players something familiar, but with a completely new level of engagement.”

The post ENJOY unveils next-generation hybrid live experience Energy Roulette: Hold & Win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.