Officials in Macao have disclosed the presence of a criminal organization hailing from mainland China engaged in fraudulent schemes utilizing phony gaming chips. This faction has preyed upon currency exchange operators and gamblers since July of the previous year, successfully deceiving at least 17 individuals and swindling over HK$1.2 million, which includes five victims linked to currency exchange services.
In the wake of an investigation, seven men aged 24 to 41 were apprehended on March 21, 2025, with 128 high-quality fake chips, each valued at HK$10,000, confiscated. Currently, law enforcement is pursuing more than ten additional suspects, including the main perpetrator, who are still at large.
The captured suspects, known by the surnames Liu, Bao, Wu, Sai, Tao, Ah, and Wang, face allegations related to organized crime, significant fraud, and misleading gambling practices. They have been forwarded to the Public Prosecutions Office for subsequent legal proceedings. The victims, consisting of 16 men and one woman, are all non-residents of Macao.
Macao authorities had received intelligence suggesting that the syndicate had dispatched members numerous times since mid-2022 to conduct scams targeting gamblers and currency exchange agents across various casinos on the Cotai Strip.
In recent operations, investigators detained three suspects attempting to enter Macao at the Border Gate, where two were found with 61 counterfeit chips. Furthermore, 19 similar fake chips were uncovered in a restroom at the border. Following additional leads, four more suspects were arrested at a local casino, resulting in another 48 counterfeit chips being seized, culminating in a total of 128.
Officials stated that the criminal group had executed at least six distinct operations, employing various combinations of members to infiltrate the territory, successfully enticing victims until they recognized they had been duped while trying to exchange their chips at casino counters or tables.