On September 5, the Nghe An Provincial Police announced that they had successfully broken up a gambling ring with a transaction value of over VND 250 billion, arresting 17 individuals involved in the operation across Nghe An and several other provinces and cities in Vietnam.
Prior to the bust, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Division and the Criminal Police Division of the Nghe An Provincial Police discovered an online gambling ring operating through a website called “Lokichi.com,” offering binary options trading.
This group operated in a mobile and sophisticated manner, with an international reach and servers based abroad. It was led by foreign individuals who employed cunning and professional tactics.
Ringleaders Tran Vu Toan (left) and Nguyen Dinh Khoi – Photo: Nghe An Police
Vietnamese authorities identified the masterminds behind this gambling operation as Tran Vu Toan (born 1990), residing in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, and Nguyen Dinh Khoi (born 1994), residing in Tay Hoa District, Phu Yen Province.
Given the seriousness of the crimes committed by this group, the leadership of the Nghe An Provincial Police directed the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Division and the Criminal Police Division to establish a specialized task force. This team swiftly mobilized their forces and applied a range of professional measures to dismantle the ring.
In relation to this case, the police arrested the ringleader, Hoang Thi Hoa (born 1982, residing in Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City), along with three other accomplices: Trinh Xuan Duc (born 2001, residing in Nghi Phong Commune, Nghi Loc District), Tran Thi Xuan (born 1987, residing in Ben Thuy Ward, Vinh City), and Hoang Thi Thu Trang (born 1987, residing in Lac Son Commune, Do Luong District).
Flaunting luxury cars and goods to attract more gamblers
Investigations revealed that “Lokichi.com” was a gambling website offering binary options trading based on the fluctuations of the BTC/USDT cryptocurrency pair. After registering an account, players would predict the upward or downward trend of this cryptocurrency pair and place buy or sell orders, with each trading session lasting 30 seconds.
At the end of each session, if the player’s prediction matched the direction of the cryptocurrency pair, they would win 95% of their bet. Conversely, if their prediction was incorrect, they would lose their entire stake.
Hoang Thi Hoa and Tran Vu Toan in police custody – Photo: Nghe An Police
Notably, to attract more participants to this gambling ring, Tran Vu Toan and his associates used social media platforms like Facebook, Zalo, and Telegram to showcase their wealth and luxury lifestyles, attained through their involvement with the “Lokichi.com” platform. They posted photos of themselves with luxury cars, designer goods, and exotic vacations.
After a period of surveillance, on August 29 and 30, under the direction of the Nghe An Provincial Police leadership, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Division and the Criminal Police Division coordinated with other units and localities to simultaneously arrest 17 individuals (10 men and 7 women, aged 21 to 42) across multiple provinces and cities, including Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Hanoi, Yen Bai, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Yen, Kon Tum, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Seized luxury cars and phones – Photo: Nghe An Police
In the branch of the ring led by Hoang Thi Hoa, the police initially determined that from the beginning of 2024 to the present, the total value of online gambling transactions through the Lokichi.com forum exceeded 10 million USDT, equivalent to more than VND 250 billion. The evidence seized in this case includes 5 cars, 20 touch-screen phones, and 1 desktop computer.
During the investigation, the arrested individuals confessed to their crimes, and their statements were consistent with the evidence collected. Currently, the Criminal Police Division is detaining the 17 individuals and continuing to gather evidence while expanding the investigation.
To recognize the outstanding performance in breaking up this online gambling ring, the Nghe An Provincial Police held an impromptu award ceremony on the morning of September 4 to commend the task force members for their achievements.
The Ultimate Guide to Online Lottery Games: Uncovering the Secrets of Labubu
The Ho Chi Minh City Police advise the public to be vigilant against online lucky draws or similar schemes, to ensure they do not inadvertently break the law.
Arresting an Armed Suspect with Molotov Cocktails: The Bank Robbery in Binh Duong
With the intention to rob a bank, the perpetrator carried two guns and Molotov cocktails, but was intercepted and arrested by the police before any harm could be done.
Capturing the Crypto Con: Uncovering an Elaborate Online Gambling Scam
On August 9th, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Division of the Lang Son Provincial Police announced that they had initiated a criminal investigation into illegal gambling activities. The case has now been transferred, along with all relevant evidence, to the Lang Son City Police Investigation Agency for further proceedings within their jurisdiction.
