These Kerala Influencers Were Caught Promoting Betting Apps: Why Is It So Alarming?
Kerala Police have taken stringent action against social media influencers, including popular Malayali vloggers Mallu Family Sujin, Wayanadan Vlogger, and Fazmina Zakiir, whose Instagram accounts were recently blocked by Meta for promoting illegal betting and gaming apps.
This follows a detailed investigation sparked by complaints from Advocate Jiyas Jamal, leading to the closure of multiple accounts linked to the unauthorised promotion of these apps.
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The crackdown aims to curtail the growing trend of online gambling promotion, which has increasingly been targeting youth across social media platforms.
The Kerala Police’s decision to block several high-profile Instagram accounts is due to the government’s efforts to tackle the illegal promotion of gambling and betting apps, such as the controversial Raj Game app.
These influencers had been promoting such apps, often showcasing videos where they claimed to have earned significant profits by participating in games through these platforms.
The videos, which were shared widely on Instagram, misled many followers into believing that easy money could be made through online betting, a scheme that turned out to be a scam.
The Cyber Police had earlier launched a case based on his complaint, which pointed out the illegal promotion of betting apps. Following the investigation, several Instagram accounts linked to the promotion of these apps were shut down.
Among those whose accounts were blocked are notable social media influencers, such as Mallu Family Sujin, who has a large following on Instagram for his family-based content, and Fazmina Zakiir, who constantly promoted betting apps through her Instagram handle as well as Wayandan Vlogger.
The video content promoted by these influencers features them claiming to have made easy profits through these apps, luring their followers into participating.
Such actions, as seen with the controversial Mahadev and Fivem apps, are not isolated. Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate had taken action against these apps for fraudulent activities involving the siphoning off of large sums of money through the promise of easy earnings from mini-games.
Investigations into these apps revealed that a significant amount of the funds generated through these platforms was transferred to cryptocurrency accounts, raising alarms about the authenticity and legality of these services.
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Social media influencers like Vasupalli Nani, also known as Local Boy Nani, have faced legal consequences for promoting similar online betting applications through platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
Nani’s promotion of betting apps, including DAFABET, PARIMATCH, and MAHADEV BOOK, led to a significant investigation by the Visakhapatnam Cybercrime Police.
His actions were said to have resulted in a victim losing a substantial amount of money, falling into debt, and suffering mental distress. This prompted authorities to act, with Nani being arrested and sent to judicial remand.
Kerala Police and other law enforcement agencies across the country have increasingly become vigilant in monitoring social media platforms, urging influencers to refrain from promoting gambling and unverified investment schemes.
Authorities warn that such promotions could lead the public to trust fraudulent and unverified sources, ultimately causing financial harm.
