20 Charged in $190K DraftKings Fraud Scheme in Connecticut

Twenty Connecticut residents have been charged in a coordinated fraud scheme that exploited DraftKings accounts using stolen payment cards, resulting in losses exceeding $190,000 over six weeks in late summer 2024. Authorities are actively searching for two suspected masterminds believed to be operating from outside the state.

What Happened

Connecticut law enforcement has brought charges against 20 residents in connection with an identity theft and payment-card fraud operation centered on the DraftKings online betting platform. The scheme operated during a six-week window in late summer 2024, generating losses totaling more than $190,000.

According to court filings, the operation followed a consistent pattern: perpetrators obtained victims’ linked Visa cards and used them to fund DraftKings accounts. Once funds were deposited, the fraudsters quickly withdrew the money, converting stolen credit lines into liquid assets before victims or financial institutions could detect the activity.

The investigation has identified Manuel Pichardo and Luis Rodriguez as the suspected primary organizers. Both individuals remain at large and are believed to be operating from locations outside Connecticut, complicating apprehension efforts. Authorities have issued warrants for their arrest.

The 20 charged individuals face multiple felony and misdemeanor counts, including identity theft, payment-card misuse, larceny, and conspiracy. The charges reflect the coordinated nature of the scheme rather than isolated incidents of fraud.

Investigators have not disclosed the exact number of victims or whether additional charges are anticipated as the investigation continues. The scope and duration of the scheme suggest it may have affected dozens of individuals whose financial information was compromised.

Why It Matters For Players

This case exposes a vulnerability that extends far beyond DraftKings itself: the risk of account takeover through compromised payment methods. If your Visa card is linked to your betting account, fraudsters who obtain that card number can access your account and drain funds in minutes.

The speed of the scheme—quick deposits followed by immediate withdrawals—suggests the perpetrators were banking on the lag time between when fraud occurs and when victims or banks detect it. Most people don’t monitor their betting accounts in real-time, and many don’t check credit card statements daily.

For casual bettors, this underscores why you should enable two-factor authentication on any gambling account, use unique passwords, and monitor linked payment methods closely. For frequent players, consider using prepaid cards or digital wallets with spending limits rather than direct credit or debit card links.

The incident also highlights that even major platforms with robust security protocols can become targets when users’ payment credentials are compromised upstream—through data breaches, phishing, or social engineering.

Market Context And Trend Analysis

Online betting fraud has accelerated in tandem with the legalization and expansion of regulated sports betting across the United States. As of 2024, 38 states plus Washington D.C. offer legal sports betting, creating a massive addressable market for both legitimate operators and criminals.

The Connecticut case is not an anomaly. The FBI and Secret Service have documented a sharp rise in organized payment-card fraud targeting online gambling platforms since 2022. These schemes typically exploit the speed and opacity of digital transactions—funds can move from a victim’s card to a betting account to a criminal’s bank account in under an hour.

DraftKings, valued at over $12 billion and operating in 17 states plus Washington D.C., has implemented industry-standard fraud detection systems. However, no platform can fully prevent fraud when the initial compromise occurs outside its ecosystem—i.e., when a victim’s payment card is stolen through a data breach or phishing attack unrelated to the betting site itself.

The $190,000 loss in this single Connecticut operation is modest compared to some organized fraud rings. In 2023, federal prosecutors charged a network of 50+ individuals in a $2.1 million online gambling fraud scheme spanning multiple states. The Connecticut case suggests either a smaller operation or one caught relatively early in its lifecycle.

Regulated betting operators have responded by tightening identity verification, implementing velocity checks (flagging multiple transactions in short timeframes), and partnering with payment processors on real-time fraud monitoring. However, the cat-and-mouse dynamic persists.

The crypto casino and gambling Angle

While this specific case involves traditional payment methods (Visa cards) and a regulated fiat-based platform (DraftKings), it illuminates why some players are migrating toward decentralized and cryptocurrency-based gambling alternatives.

Blockchain-based betting platforms operate on immutable transaction records and don’t require users to link traditional payment cards or bank accounts. A user funds a crypto wallet through their own security infrastructure, then deposits that crypto into a betting platform. The separation of identity and payment reduces the attack surface for card-based fraud schemes like the one in Connecticut.

That said, crypto gambling introduces different risks: wallet compromise, smart contract exploits, regulatory uncertainty, and lack of traditional consumer protections. The trade-off is real. But for users already holding cryptocurrency, the ability to bet without exposing card or banking credentials appeals to a growing segment of the market.

The Connecticut indictments may accelerate this trend. As traditional betting platforms face mounting fraud losses, they will raise verification requirements and implement stricter transaction controls. For some users, the friction of those controls will push them toward platforms that accept crypto deposits, where the burden of security falls on the user rather than the platform.

Key Takeaways

• 20 Connecticut residents charged in coordinated DraftKings fraud scheme involving stolen payment cards and identity theft, with losses exceeding $190,000 over six weeks in late summer 2024.
• Two suspected organizers remain at large: Manuel Pichardo and Luis Rodriguez are believed to be operating from outside Connecticut, complicating law enforcement efforts.
• Fraud pattern was rapid: Perpetrators deposited stolen funds into DraftKings accounts and immediately withdrew them, exploiting the lag time before detection.
• Charges are serious: Defendants face identity theft, payment-card misuse, larceny, and conspiracy charges—felonies that carry substantial prison time.
• Trend is accelerating: Online betting fraud has spiked as regulated sports betting expands across the U.S., creating larger markets for both legitimate operators and criminals.
• Player protection matters: Two-factor authentication, unique passwords, and monitoring of linked payment methods are essential safeguards against account takeover.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

The Connecticut fraud case is a stark reminder that online betting platforms, despite their size and resources, cannot fully protect users from payment-card fraud originating outside their systems. The speed and scale of modern fraud—$190,000 stolen in six weeks across 20 coordinated perpetrators—demonstrates that organized crime has adapted to the digital betting ecosystem.

Regulation and law enforcement are catching up. The fact that 20 individuals were charged and two suspected masterminds are being actively pursued shows that authorities are taking these cases seriously. But the investigation also reveals the challenge: two key organizers remain at large, suggesting that the infrastructure enabling these schemes is distributed and difficult to fully dismantle.

For players, the lesson is clear: assume your payment credentials are at risk and act accordingly. Use strong authentication, monitor accounts actively, and consider alternative funding methods that reduce exposure to card-based fraud. The regulated betting industry will continue to strengthen its defenses, but your own vigilance remains the most reliable protection.