The Region - News from Aug. 6, 1986

Los Angeles Filipinos have been fleeced out of thousands of dollars in a card-game scam, and detectives suspect that others may have also been swindled but are afraid to tell police. The scam, which has been operated in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas for years, recently resurfaced and five people have been arrested. The victims were induced into “shilling” in a rigged card game in which they were given signals as to what their opponents held in their hands. The opponent would often be presented as a wealthy Filipino eager to play in a high-stakes card game. After the pot swelled, the shill would be tricked into putting in his own money, then tricked again into betting against a stronger hand. In one case, Detective Dennis Adams said, one pot reached about $200,000.