“Scam Exposed: Gang from Lao Cai Scams Victims Out of VND 1 Billion Through Livestream Gemstone Sales”

In early July 2025, the Criminal Police Department, through their intelligence work, discovered a group exhibiting signs of online fraud. Their modus operandi involved selling ordinary rocks, deceptively marketed as containing precious gemstones. Recognizing the complexity of the case, the Lao Cai Provincial Police established a specialized task force, mobilizing various operational forces to tackle the issue.

On August 21st, the task force simultaneously raided multiple locations rented by the group for their livestreaming operations.

The police arrested and persuaded a total of 11 individuals to turn themselves in, including Hoang Quoc Tri (DOB: 1993), Hoang Van Giang (DOB: 2000), Hoang Van Thu (DOB: 1991), and several other accomplices, all residing in Lao Cai.

The following day, two more individuals, Trieu Van Truc (DOB: 1991) and Lang Van Liem (DOB: 1991), surrendered and confessed their involvement in this fraud ring.

During the investigation, the police identified Hoang Van Giang as the creator and administrator of the YouTube channel “An Phu Heaven’s Gemstones.” He colluded with Hoang Van Thu to organize live streaming sessions with the intent to defraud viewers.

Thu was responsible for renting locations, purchasing three additional YouTube channels, and preparing equipment, bank accounts, and other tools. The group also rented an old karaoke bar in Tang Loong commune, Lao Cai, to serve as their livestreaming “studio.”

Meanwhile, Hoang Quoc Tri borrowed the “An Phu Heaven’s Gemstones” channel from Giang to independently organize livestreams at a different location in Lao Cai ward. They hired young individuals to conduct the broadcasts, read scripts, and interact with viewers, all carefully staged to gain the trust of their audience.

Their deceitful tactic involved advertising ordinary rocks, sometimes even valueless ones, as “rough stones containing rubies within.”

They promised that if buyers smashed the rocks (a process known as “stone dumping”) and found gemstones of a certain weight, the group would repurchase them at a high price. To build trust, they utilized approximately 70 fake YouTube accounts to participate in the livestreams, posing as customers buying the stones and offering high prices, thus manipulating the audience’s psychology.

In reality, the stones yielded no gemstones or only small fragments that did not meet the promised criteria when smashed. Victims were trapped, losing money with no recourse to resell the worthless rocks. Through this scheme, the group is estimated to have defrauded victims of approximately 10 billion VND from multiple locations.

The Investigative Police Agency of Lao Cai Provincial Police is continuing its investigation, aiming to clarify the actions of each individual involved and ensure they are strictly handled according to legal regulations.