Alert in the Dominican Republic: Scam network links more than 48 public figures to illegal casinos
An alarming investigation has uncovered a sophisticated scam network operating through unregulated online casinos and betting platforms in the Dominican Republic. Tech content creator Marcianotech has revealed how this scheme uses more than 48 influencers and media personalities in the country to attract users through deceptive advertising and promises of unrealistic earnings.
The modus operandi: Illusion of wealth
The strategy of international recruiters is aggressive. They offer public figures sums ranging from $1,300 per week for simple social media stories, up to $10,000 for detailed videos. To ensure that influencers promote the service with total confidence, companies provide them with demo accounts featuring fictitious funds.
These accounts are set up so that the user always makes a profit, allowing content creators to share screenshots of non-existent withdrawals, deceiving their followers with the false premise that it is possible to turn small investments into thousands of dollars.
- Use of demo accounts with virtual money to simulate profits.
- Misleading advertising that promises astronomical financial returns.
- Systematic blocking of withdrawals when the user attempts to withdraw their real money.
- Operations from abroad evading Dominican oversight.
Legal risks and lack of regulation
The fraud is finalized when followers, motivated by the recommendations of their favorite figures, deposit real capital into these platforms. When attempting to withdraw their funds, users encounter permanent technical blocks. By operating from abroad and lacking local licenses, these platforms act outside the national legal framework.
They give you an account that is a fake account where they are going to make you win. It has funds that are not yours, that’s where the issue of false promotion comes in and the casinos themselves are scamming people. I mean, when people want to withdraw the money, someone who put in their own money, played and won, there is no way to withdraw the money.
MarcianotechThe investigation points out that, in addition to deceiving the audience, the promoters do not hesitate to use aggressive cybersecurity tactics. A documented case involves an analyst from 42 North, whose computer was compromised after questioning the legitimacy of the platform and requesting audits that the operators could not substantiate.
Legal implications for those involved
Regarding the involvement of communicators and influencers in this scheme, lawyer José Martínez Brito was emphatic in pointing out that promoting these platforms carries clear legal consequences, regardless of who advertises them.
It is illegal to promote an unregulated game of chance, in the same way that it is illegal to promote a bank that is not regulated either.
José Martínez BritoMarcianotech has confirmed possessing a detailed list with the names of the more than 48 individuals involved, warning that many smaller-scale creators are replicating this content under the false belief that the participation of more recognized figures protects them from any liability before the authorities.
