Four arrested in Macau for allegedly selling fake casino chips
The suspects were allegedly instructed to operate at various casinos.
Macau.- Four men have been arrested in Macau for allegedly using fake casino chips to scam gamblers out of HK$210,000 ($26,900). According to a statement from the Judiciary Police on Monday, January 5, the suspects allegedly worked with a crime group that tricked gamblers near casino premises into swapping cash for fake chips.
Investigators began looking into the case on January 3 when one suspect allegedly attempted to exchange seven HK$10,000 (US$1,284) chips with a male gambler in Cotai. Suspecting the chips were counterfeit, the gambler raised an alarm, leading casino staff to call police, who arrested two men.
As police investigated, they received more details from two other casinos run by the same operator: one in Cotai and one in the New Port area where 18 fake chips were found. Police later arrested two more suspects.
The suspects allegedly claim they were hired by a crime syndicate in late November and came to Macau via the Border Gate. They say they were promised a minimum of RMB20,000 (US$2,800) each if the scam was successful. The four suspects have been handed over to the Public Prosecutions Office and are charged with involvement in a criminal organization and large-scale fraud.
