Police arrest lottery crooks victimizing expats

Police have arrested several people selling real and fake lottery tickets to expatriates and citizens at markets in Jeddah, said police Lt. Nawaf Al-Booq.
The suspects, known as lottery “bankers,” sell customers tickets for games run in various foreign countries including the Philippines, Hong Kong and Thailand. Customers are mainly foreigners, but also include Saudis. The bankers operate at Filipino and other markets, Arab News has discovered.
“We have warned all citizens and expatriates in the Kingdom about dealing with persons who are wanted by the police,” said Al-Booq. “Saudi law bans lottery activities in the Kingdom. Most lottery bankers are thieves. We have captured a lot of people working as lottery bankers.”
Lottery bankers who sell real tickets earn 30 percent of a winner’s prize money.
Arab News has discovered that some people spend more than SR 1,000 each time they play, hoping to win bigger prizes.
However, many unsuspecting expatriates buy fake tickets from lottery bankers.
Raheem Shakoor, an Indian taxi driver in Jeddah who used to buy lottery tickets, said the lottery has become a popular pastime among sections of the expatriate community.
“A lot of expatriates in the Kingdom are addicted to playing lottery,” he said. “It is difficult to determine whether tickets are real or not. Some expatriates deal only with a trusted lottery banker every time they play. I have already bought three fake lottery tickets.
A Filipino lottery banker, who asked to remain anonymous, told Arab News that he operates at well-known markets in Jeddah.
“People know where to buy tickets,” he added. “We do not ask anyone whether he wants to buy, to avoid possible problems with policemen. I think there are around seven lottery bankers with me at the Jeddah International Market. We know our customers and they know us.
“There are many expatriates who play lottery. Saudi laws do not allow libraries and stores to sell lottery number tickets. I buy lottery tickets from abroad and sell them in the Kingdom. Most lottery players in the Kingdom are from Philippine and European countries.”