Top Internet Poker Fraudster Caught
Published: Saturday, February 25, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
TOP INTERNET POKER FRAUDSTER CAUGHT
Internet poker rooms Partypoker and Pokerstars make fraud an expensive business for crooks
Internet poker fraudsters, and the consequences of this dishonest conduct at major
internet poker venues was one of the top discussion subjects this week following
spectacular detective work and the confiscation of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In one case, the $200 buy-in, $500 000 Guaranteed Poker Tournament held by market
leader Partypoker was the target. This event is supported by the huge Internet
poker player base of the Internet's biggest Internet poker card room and draws
thousands of players. In this case, the packed tables were finally (apparently)
conquered by a hitherto unknown player using the handle ABlackCar, who
won $140 000.
ABlackcar's new-found wealth did not last long, however and his fate is a cautionary
lesson for any and all would-be fraudsters who seek to cheat and lie their way
to riches through Internet poker rooms and the honest players who frequent same.
Through some astute detective and technology work, Partypoker exposed the fact
that ABlackcar was the fraudulent multiple account of one of the Internet's
top Internet poker players who uses the handle JJ Prodigy.
Partypoker's reaction was decisive and immediate, stripping the first prize from
ABlackcar and awarding it instead to the next placed player, with a consequent
unexpected "bump up" for all other winners.
'JJProdigy' defended himself on the Internet poker forums, notably 2
Plus 2 where this incident became a major talking point, initially stating
that the second account was for his grandmother to play on! When she worked her
way deep into the tournament, said 'JJProdigy' he took over for her and let people
know at the tables that he was playing the account.
Unfortunately for JJ, the truth will out, and the true story involving his play
as ABlackcar surfaced.
'JJ' confessed to the deception and then admitted to knowingly setting up the
second account at the end of 2005 and to playing both accounts throughout the
tournament. More alarmingly, however - JJ went on to allege that many players
he knows do the same thing and that many Internet poker sites have no idea that
it is happening.
Partypoker's Terms and conditions are specific regarding fraudulent play, and
the management is to be congratulated for taking such a strong stand on this issue.
The penalties for fraudulent play are stiff but appropriate to ensure honesty
and safety for other players - confiscation of any winnings and the immediate
cancellation of all accounts involved.
Those penalties were immediately applied to JJ.
On the positive side, another leading Internet poker site, Pokerstars was
alerted by the incident and started its own internal investigation, found impropriety,
and also closed a well padded JJProdigy account on their platform. Sources say
that other large operators alerted by the scam have redoubled their vigilance
and are methodically analysing their action in an ongoing search for any other
crooks.
JJ Prodigy is reported to be one of the many young men who have taken so successfully
to the world of Internet poker. He is clearly a person of skill and talent for
the game of poker, although his intelligence and integrity has to be questioned
for pulling this sort of stunt. He may find it extremely difficult henceforth
to be accepted, as there are very few people who like or trust fraudsters, who
make life tough for everyone. That will make this a very expensive lesson.
By way of reassurance to poker heads, the chances of actual collusion in a Internet
poker tournament with hundreds of tables is small.
No doubt other fraudsters will be publicised when caught, and that will serve
as an ongoing deterrent to any poker player contemplating dishonest tactics in
online poker. In the meantime, for those who are still considering this sort of
poker scam - be aware that the poker card room operators are wideawake, and the
consequences are severe.
