Macau authorities have detained a Hong Kong couple suspected of running a large-scale fraud that centered on a fabricated casino VIP room investment, a case that police say led to losses of roughly HK$28 million for a non-resident investor. Investigators allege the pair relied on forged paperwork, staged site visits, and repeated promises of fixed returns to gain the victim’s confidence before payments stopped earlier last year.

The Judiciary Police identified the suspects as a 69-year-old man surnamed Luo and a 48-year-old woman surnamed Yang, both Hong Kong residents. According to police accounts, the couple met the investor several years ago during visits to Macau and later promoted what they described as a legitimate casino-linked business opportunity in the NAPE district.

How the investment scheme was presented

Police said the suspects claimed their Hong Kong-registered company had secured an agreement to operate a VIP room at a Macau casino. They told the investor the project would generate monthly returns of 3 percent and encouraged him to commit funds over time. Leng Kam Lon, a spokesman for the Judiciary Police, said, “They repeatedly urged the victim to invest in a VIP room at a NAPE-area casino,” according to Macau Daily Times.

To support their claims, investigators said the couple showed documents that appeared to bear casino names, company stamps, and signatures. The suspects also arranged on-site visits to a gaming venue, where the investor was introduced to staff and given explanations of how the alleged VIP room business functioned. These steps, police said, were intended to reinforce the impression that the operation was genuine.

The victim, described as a middle-aged non-resident man, was introduced to the couple through a friend in 2023. Although initially cautious, he was persuaded after reviewing the documents and receiving repeated assurances of steady monthly income tied to the casino project.

Flow of funds and halted payments

Between November 2023 and April 2024, the investor transferred or handed over funds on several occasions. Police said the total included CNY8.4 million and HK$19 million, bringing the combined amount to about HK$28 million, or roughly US$3.59 million. Early in the arrangement, the investor received approximately HK$4 million in what were presented as profits.

Authorities said those payments stopped after April 2024. The suspects allegedly delayed responses and declined requests for refunds, leaving the investor with a net loss of about HK$24 million. After months without repayment, the investor reported the matter to Macau police in November.

Police findings and arrests

Subsequent checks with the casino named in the documents showed no cooperation with the suspects’ company and no VIP room contract in place, according to the Judiciary Police. Investigators also identified inconsistencies in the format, fonts, and signatures used in the paperwork provided to the victim, confirming the documents were forged. Police added that the company owned by the couple had never operated and existed only on paper.

The suspects were arrested as they attempted to re-enter Macau through the Border Gate. Officers seized company seals, two mobile phones, and HK$222,000 in cash. Police believe the earlier payments labeled as returns were likely taken from the investor’s own funds.

Authorities have charged the couple with fraud involving a particularly large sum and document forgery. Investigators continue to trace the movement of the defrauded money, and the case remains under active investigation.