As World Cup fever grips China, media are highlighting the dangers of gambling via messaging apps like WeChat.

Fans bet thousands of yuan ($150 and up) on their favorite teams via online chat groups, The Beijing News reported Wednesday. But organizers of such digital gambling dens frequently take the money and run. Groups with “soccer gambling specialists” who sell betting advice have also gained popularity.

Gambling is illegal in China, though it allows certain state-run lotteries. During the 2014 World Cup, these sold 12.9 billion yuan worth of soccer lottery tickets, while police busted illegal bets amounting to 18 million yuan. In February, WeChat underlined a zero-tolerance policy for gambling on its platform. (Image: VCG)