MGM Osaka has been forced to issue a warning after the operator discovered fraudulent websites claiming affiliation with the company.
In a notice released on the company’s website earlier this month, the operator of Japan’s first casino resort expressly distanced itself from the sites, some of which it said are illegally offering online casino products.
MGM also warned of people posing as MGM Osaka employees who are making ‘unjust monetary demands’ and engaging in fraudulent business activities across social media.
“Neither our company nor any of our officers or employees will ever use social media or similar platforms to solicit outsourcing arrangements or request payments of any kind,” the notice read.
“These websites have absolutely no affiliation with our company and are neither operated nor endorsed by us. Please exercise extreme caution and be vigilant against fraudulent websites.”
The company urged people not to provide any personal information to these websites or make payments to people claiming to be associated with MGM Osaka.
MGM Osaka is slated to open in 2030 and is a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Japan’s Orix Corporation.
MGM China’s deepfake dilemma
MGM has also previously been forced to address fraudulent activity in Asia that utilised AI.
Last September, MGM China spoke out after a deepfake video of its Chair, Pansy Ho, was circulated on social media, offering what the company described as an ‘entirely fraudulent’ investment opportunity.
A statement released by MGM China at the time said: “The video was neither created nor released by the Company or Ms Pansy Ho. MGM China condemns these acts of impersonation and misrepresentation in the strongest terms and reserves all legal rights against the parties involved, to protect our rights and interests.”
MGM China urged people to use ‘utmost vigilance’ when viewing content claiming to be from the company and warned of the legal consequences of sharing fraudulent content.
Weaponising licensed brands
MGM’s warnings underline the deceptive tactics being used by the black market to attract players.
Earlier this month, the brand protection company Corsearch told iGaming Expert that illegal betting platforms are ‘weaponising regulated brand identities through phishing and fake domains to funnel users into the black market’.
According to Corsearch, these scams can spike significantly during major events, such as the ongoing World Cup, with betting-related phishing scams rising 118% month-on-month during last year’s sporting summer.
Simon Baggs, Executive Chairman of Brand & Content Protection at Corsearch, told iGaming Expert: “The 118% spike we saw last year shows how quickly fraudsters exploit major sporting moments to impersonate trusted betting brands to mislead consumers.”
