As part of Lunar New Year festivities, Malaysian officials conducted a crackdown on illicit gaming, apprehending 904 people. This initiative, known as “Op Limau,” encompassed 137 raids nationwide from January 15th to 29th. Law enforcement confiscated over half a million Ringgit (approximately $120,000 USD) in currency and possessions linked to these wagering operations. The operation focused on infractions under the Common Gaming Houses Act of 1953.
Datuk Noorsiah Saaduddin, the Malaysian police secretary, stressed that this countrywide endeavor sought to mitigate the rise in unlawful betting frequently associated with the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Concurrently, in India, authorities in Noida (Cyberabad) exposed a distinct online wagering scheme. Eight individuals were detained for purportedly operating deceptive gaming and betting applications. They enticed individuals into utilizing these platforms, often via social networks and other internet sites, collaborating with global fraudsters. Officials froze multiple bank accounts and confiscated a substantial quantity of equipment employed in the operation, including numerous mobile phones, computers, checkbooks, and point-of-sale terminals. This matter is being prosecuted under various clauses of the Indian Penal Code and the Telangana Gaming Act, in addition to IT regulations.
Digital security specialists are raising concerns about a surge in fraudulent schemes that are increasingly difficult to identify. Bad actors are employing advanced methods to disguise their illicit activities as lawful enterprises. They might even mimic standard salary disbursements to conceal their unlawfully obtained profits. Another tactic involves manipulating online competitions and gaming platforms. They control the results, ensuring unsuspecting players lose while pre-selected victors (frequently complicit in the scheme) receive payouts.