Angola Dismantles Chinese Betting Network that Deceived Brazilians in Online Games

The Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) of Angola dismantled a criminal network that operated a virtual casino in Luanda, focused on deceiving Brazilian and Nigerian bettors. During the operation, 46 Chinese citizens and 113 Angolan workers were detained. The scheme included more than 400 online betting sites created to generate consistent losses for players.

The operation was supported by the National Police, the Gaming Supervision Institute (ISJ), the General Labor Inspectorate (IGT), the National Social Security Institute (INSS), and the Migration Service. The clandestine activities were managed from the Sunshine Hotel, where the suspects used a fraudulent system that manipulated bets so that the players, mostly Brazilians, had minimal chances of winning.

According to SIC spokesperson Manoel Faria, the scheme included a call center team in Angola and various fake profiles used to promote and engage bettors on the fraudulent platforms. Additionally, Brazilians participated in the scheme as recruiters, attracting new bettors in exchange for a commission.

During the operation, 223 computers and 113 cell phones were seized. Authorities also uncovered the theft of users' bank and personal data, as well as irregular working conditions, with shifts exceeding 12 hours and only 15 workers registered in the social protection system.

The suspects will face charges of fraud, money laundering, illegal online gaming operations, and criminal association.