Police in Guangdong and Macao carried out a joint operation against underground banks and illegal money exchange syndicates, dismantling three criminal groups that used "practice notes" to commit remittance fraud, according to a Macao security report published on 16 September 20241. The operation ran through the end of June 2024 and also covered locations in Jilin and Jiangxi1.
The figures from the Macao report are:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Remittance fraud syndicates dismantled (Guangdong and Macao) | 3 |
| Illegal remittance cases solved | 5 |
| Underground bank dens broken up | 6 |
| Suspects arrested | 101 |
| Amount involved | about RMB 1.47 billion |
The report says the joint work was carried out through intelligence sharing between Macao and mainland police, and that recent illegal activity linked to money exchange gangs has fallen noticeably as a result1. It also describes the groups as increasingly organized and professional, and says they commonly use forged remittance receipts, claim transfers are delayed, or send victims funds tied to crime, which can lead to the freezing of the recipient's mainland bank account1.
The same report covers a separate cross-border online gambling case. Police in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao identified a network with members in all three places and ran a synchronized operation codenamed "Po Feng" on 29 June, breaking up the group1. Macao arrested more than 50 members including the group's leader, while mainland and Hong Kong police arrested more than 40 people, with total amounts involved exceeding MOP 1 billion1.
"於今年6月29日同步採取代號“破峰”的聯合行動，成功瓦解該犯罪集團"
The report also states that a three-party mechanism set up in 2022 between the Judiciary Police, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau and gaming operators to target illegal gambling sites impersonating Macao operators blocked more than 36,000 related websites in the first half of 20241.
What it means for players
The report ties the money exchange gangs, known locally as "money changers," to fraud, theft, robbery, assault and even homicide around casinos, and says they remain the main factor disturbing order in and around gaming venues1. For anyone gambling in Macau, the described methods matter: a person who hands over cash to an unofficial exchanger can end up with a frozen mainland bank account after receiving funds linked to crime, or with no money at all if a forged receipt is used1. The report says the gangs have become more organized and professional, and that some have moved into illegal lending1.
The enforcement figures show the scale of the informal exchange trade: in the first half of 2024, the Judiciary Police and Public Security Police intercepted 2,215 money changers, removed and barred 2,072 non-resident suspects not linked to criminal cases, and reported 1,540 people to the gaming regulator for venue entry bans1. Broader gambling-related crime in Macao rose to 683 cases in the first half of 2024, up 261 cases or 61.8 percent from the same period in 2023, though still 285 cases or 29.4 percent below the same period in 20191. Fraud was the largest category at 159 cases, followed by usury at 122 and unlawful appropriation at 951. Suspects and victims were mostly non-residents1.
For visitors from mainland China, the report notes that receiving money tied to crime can freeze a mainland bank account, and that mainland police are cooperating with Macao on these cases1. General guidance on recognizing rigged games, fake sites and scam operations is covered in our page on gambling scams and safety in Asia.
What happens next
The report says police will keep monitoring the situation and adjust enforcement strategies as needed, and that the security authorities will continue working with mainland and Hong Kong police on illegal gambling and money exchange cases1. No further dated operations are given in the report.
Sources1 sources
- Producer: Microsoft: Print To PDF, gss.gov.mo
