Macau probes $3.6M casino investment scam tied to fake VIP room deal

01-10-2020 |  

Macau police have arrested a Hong Kong husband-and-wife duo on suspicion of running a large-scale investment scam involving a purported casino VIP room project, according to local media outlet Macau Daily. 

The case centers on allegations that the pair falsely claimed to be offering high-yield investment opportunities linked to a Macau casino, ultimately defrauding a non-resident investor of approximately HK$28 million ($3.59 million).

The Judiciary Police said the suspects allegedly promoted the scheme by claiming they could deliver monthly returns of 3 percent through investment in a casino VIP room. To bolster credibility, the pair allegedly presented forged documents purporting to show cooperation with a Macau casino and arranged site visits to a gaming venue, where they introduced the victim to staff and explained supposed operations.

According to police, the victim, a middle-aged non-resident man, was introduced to the couple through a friend in 2023. The male suspect reportedly claimed his Hong Kong-registered company had secured a contract to operate a VIP room at a casino in Macau’s NAPE district. Despite initial hesitation, the victim was eventually persuaded after receiving documents bearing company stamps and signatures, as well as repeated assurances of fixed monthly returns.

Between November 2023 and April 2024, the victim transferred or handed over funds on multiple occasions, amounting to CNY8.4 million and HK$19 million, or roughly HK$28 million ($3.59 million) in total. During the early stages of the investment, the victim received about HK$4 million ($513,000) in purported “profits.” However, payments stopped after April 2024, with the suspects allegedly delaying responses and refusing refund requests.

The victim later reported the case to Macau police in November. Subsequent inquiries with the relevant casino confirmed there was no cooperation with the suspects’ company, nor any VIP room contract. Police also determined that the documents provided to the victim had inconsistencies in formatting and typography, confirming they were forged.

The suspects, both unemployed Hong Kong residents, were arrested when they re-entered Macau via the Border Gate. Officers seized company seals, two mobile phones, and HK$222,000 ($28,500) in cash. Police said the company involved was owned by the couple but had never been operational, and that the earlier “returns” paid to the victim were likely drawn from the original investment funds.

Police have charged the suspects with fraud involving a particularly large sum and document forgery. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are tracing the flow of the suspected proceeds.

Source: AGBrief