A Fake Cricket League In India Conned Russian Bettors For Weeks Before Getting Shut Down

quote:

---

This week a fake “Indian Premier Cricket League,” pretending to mimic the real IPL, got broken up after weeks of conning Russian bettors into wagering on fake matches played on a farm and broadcast online with laborers dressing up as fake players. The game broadcasts featured just one camera angle tight on the pitch, never showing a wide angle of the “stadium” they were playing in, using fake crowd noise, so when the ball got hit off screen, a fake referee would make up calls based on what bettors had bet on to make them the most money.

---

quote:

---

The conmen managed to reach the quarter-finals stage of their so-called “Indian Premier Cricket League” before police stopped play.

Russian gamblers placed bets on a Telegram channel set up by the gang, who then alerted the fake umpire using walkie-talkies, police inspector Bhavesh Rathod told reporters.

The fake umpire would then “signal the bowler and batsman to hit a six, four or get out”, Mr Rathod said.

---