The Cyber Crime Department of Hyderabad Police has made significant strides in combating illegal iGaming activities. In April alone, they identified 184 profiles on Facebook and Instagram that had posted 801 paid advertisements promoting illegal iGaming operators and fraudulent investment platforms targeting Indian users.
Following a request from the department, all identified profiles were blocked. Additionally, the police have registered six criminal complaints against the advertisers involved.
According to police reports, these advertisers lured audiences with promises of easy earnings, bonuses, referral commissions, and predictions related to the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches. They also utilized deepfake advertisements featuring well-known personalities to attract more users.
As part of their cyber patrolling initiative, the police have removed a total of 427 profiles and 1,903 paid advertisements promoting illegal iGaming operators and fake investment platforms. The investigation to identify those responsible and trace the associated financial schemes is ongoing.