Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-17**Lead**
A prominent sports betting platform, Underdog, is currently promoting a high-profile offer using the code FOXNEWS: users who deposit and wager $5 on college football matchups—specifically Indiana vs Ohio State and Tennessee vs Alabama—receive a $100 bonus. While the deal is legitimate and widely shared across digital channels, cybersecurity analysts and consumer protection agencies are raising red flags about the security implications of such aggressive promotional campaigns, particularly as fraudsters and identity thieves increasingly target sports bettors in the United States.
**Context**
Sports betting has expanded rapidly across the United States following the 2018 Supreme Court decision that struck down the federal ban on commercial sports wagering. Today, over 30 states have legalized some form of sports betting, and platforms like Underdog, DraftKings, and FanDuel compete fiercely for new users. Bonuses and promo codes—such as the $5-to-$100 offer tied to FOXNEWS—are commonplace, designed to lower the barrier to entry and build a loyal user base. However, this very popularity makes the sector a fertile ground for cybercriminals. According to the Better Business Bureau, scam sports betting sites and counterfeit promo code schemes have surged by more than 300% in recent years, often mimicking legitimate offers to steal personal and financial information.
The specific promotion, valid for two high-stakes college football games, has been amplified by influencers, social media ads, and email newsletters. But security experts point out that the very mechanisms that make these offers attractive—simple sign-up forms, instant bonuses, and short time windows—also make them perfect phishing lures. Attackers may create fake Underdog websites or send emails with malicious links disguised as the FOXNEWS code, harvesting sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, credit card details, and driver’s license scans required for identity verification.
**Analise**
The risks extend beyond individual consumers. The broader sports betting ecosystem relies on vast data exchanges between users, payment processors, and sports leagues. Promotional rush periods, like those triggered by the FOXNEWS code, create spikes in traffic and account registration, which can strain security protocols. Cybersecurity researchers at firms such as Palo Alto Networks have noted that betting platforms are often targeted by distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and credential-stuffing bots during major sporting events. A single breach could expose hundreds of thousands of users’ records, leading to financial fraud and long-term identity damage.
For the bettor, the short-term lure of free money can overshadow basic security hygiene. Many users reuse passwords across multiple sites, fail to enable two-factor authentication, or click on links without verifying the sender. The Federal Trade Commission warns that sports betting-related fraud complaints have spiked, with victims reporting losses from fake bonuses and unauthorized account withdrawals. In the case of the FOXNEWS promo, users are advised to go directly to Underdog’s official website—never via a shared link—and to scrutinize the URL for typos or extra characters. Additionally, checking that the platform is licensed and regulated by state gaming authorities is essential; unlicensed operators may not adhere to the same security standards.
**Fontes**
This article is based on information from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) scam tracker, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer alerts on sports betting fraud, and reports from cybersecurity firms such as Palo Alto Networks and Kaspersky on threats targeting gambling platforms. No specific individuals were interviewed; all institutional sources are publicly available and verifiable.