Title: Unauthorized Money Changers Fuel Surge in Gaming-Related Fraud Cases in Macau: Police
Date: February 28, 2024
Macau’s Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, announced in a press briefing on February 28, 2024, that unauthorized money changers were responsible for the majority of gaming-related fraud cases in Macau in 2023.
Gaming-Related Fraud Cases on the Rise
- Total number of investigations: 257
- Percentage increase YoY: 198.8%
- Decrease compared to pre-pandemic year (2019): 43.6%
Unauthorized Money Changers as the Main Culprits
Secretary Wong stated that frauds involving unauthorized money changers accounted for approximately 94% (240 incidents) of the 257 gaming-related fraud cases.
Types of Frauds
- Use of counterfeit banknotes
- Fraudulent remittance pledges
Fighting against Illicit Money Exchanges
- Collaboration with casino operators
- Collaboration with Chinese mainland authorities
Emergence of the Issue
The Secretary explained that the issue of illicit money exchange first emerged in the second half of 2018 due to:
- Stricter regulations on cashing out from mainland Chinese UnionPay cards
- Introduction of facial recognition requirements at ATMs near casinos
Illicit Money Exchange Traders
- Number intercepted in 2023: Over 11,000
- Number banned from casinos: 2,048
Other Gambling-Related Crimes
Although cases related to usury and unlawful detention decreased significantly, thefts and illegitimate appropriation accounted for 31.5% of all gaming-related crimes in 2023 - a substantial increase from the 15.4% recorded in 2019.
Overall Statistics
The Macau police handled a total of 1,107 gaming-related cases in 2023, with all categories of crimes reporting a decline compared to 2019.
- Percentage decrease YoY: usury: 67.4%, unlawful detention: 65.6%, thefts: 28.9%, other illegal appropriation: 45.8%