Poker Pro Masa Kagawa Arrested for Running Android Malware Ring

Submitted by Ace King on

Written by :

Ace King

Published on :

News broke across the poker stratosphere this week that high stakes player Masa Kagawa has been arrested for his alleged role in running an Android malware ring in addition to running a scam dating website.

betdsi-2500A.jpg

Kagawa was taken into custody by Chiba Prefectural Police in Japan.

From Symantec.com:

From our observations, the operation began around September, 2012 and ended in April, 2013 when authorities raided the company office. We confirmed around 150 domains were registered to host the malicious apps during this time span. According to media reports, the group was able to collect approximately 37 million email addresses from around 810,000 Android devices. The company earned over 390 million yen (approximately 3.9 million US dollars) by running a fake online dating service called Sakura site in the last five months of the spam operation. Spam used to lure victims to the dating site was sent to the addresses collected by the malware.

Kagawa, 50, is president of the Koei Planning, an IT firm located in Shibuya, Tokyo.  He has appeared on GSN’s “High Stake Poker” and finished within the top 5 in various big name tournament events including the Aussie Millions (2007 and this year) and last year’s Poker Stars Monte Carlo EPT Grand Finale.

- Ace King, Gambling911.com

Related Content

Prosecutors Identify 18 Allegedly Rigged Pitches for Emmanuel Case Trial

Prosecutors Identify 18 Allegedly Rigged Pitches for Emmanuel Clase Trial

Federal prosecutors have identified 18 pitches, including one from a 2024 playoff game, that they allege involved sharing with bettors.
Prostitution, Bestiality and the FBI: Will Congress Act? There's a Bet for That..... But It's Not What You Think

Prostitution, Bestiality and the FBI: Will Congress Act? There's a Bet for That..... But It's Not What You Think

FBI Director Kash Patel defended a hiring policy change Tuesday that allows some applicants who have engaged in prostitution and bestiality to be considered for employment, insisting that the move was made to enable victims of those acts to apply for a job without fear of automatic disqualification.
St. Petersburg Florida Venues Subject of Early Morning Gambling Raids

St. Petersburg Florida Venues Subject of Early Morning Gambling Raids

Action Arcade and The Zoo Sports Club and Grille in St. Petersburg hit as part of “Operation Final Spin.”
Las Vegas Rental Home Owner Suspicious About Ambush Robbery of Huntington Beach Poker Pro Jared Griener

Las Vegas Rental Home Owner Suspicious About Ambush Robbery of Huntington Beach Poker Pro Jared Griener

Police released photos of two suspects Tuesday but home owner claims a review of security footage during Jared Griener's stay show multiple people in and out of the house with some having access to the security code.