In a recent event, Lieutenant General Nguyễn Thanh Tùng, Director of Hanoi’s Public Security Department, confirmed that authorities have arrested Mr. Hunter Lê Khắc Ngọ. Alongside Mr. Pips Phó Đức Nam, Ngọ led a massive fraud ring that defrauded victims of staggering sums.
The Director revealed that Hanoi police collaborated with Philippine law enforcement to apprehend Ngọ and several accomplices. Authorities are now finalizing legal procedures to extradite Ngọ back to Vietnam.
Lieutenant General Nguyễn Thanh Tùng emphasized that this marks Vietnam’s first successful dismantling of a transnational high-tech fraud syndicate, recovering over VND 5 trillion (approximately USD 210 million).
Both ringleaders, Ngọ and Nam, are now in custody. This achievement has earned praise from international law enforcement agencies, as many countries have struggled with similar criminal schemes.
Lê Khắc Ngọ (Mr. Hunter) in custody.
Previously, Hanoi police and Ministry of Public Security units, in collaboration with Interpol, arrested Ngô Thị Thêu (Ngọ’s wife) in Thailand. Thêu was attempting to flee to Turkey but was intercepted and deported back to Vietnam.
On August 15, 2025, Hanoi police, alongside Thai authorities and Vietnamese agencies, detained Thêu upon her entry into Vietnam following deportation by Thai Royal Police.
Investigations reveal that since 2021, Nam and Ngọ partnered with a Turkish national operating from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The syndicate directed seven individuals in Vietnam to establish numerous shell companies in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and other provinces. In Ho Chi Minh City, they created a front company and expanded to 44 offices nationwide, including 24 in Hanoi and 20 elsewhere.
Despite lacking financial or securities licenses, these shell companies recruited employees to conduct forex and derivatives trading activities.
The fraudsters also developed five English-language websites, deceiving investors into believing they were trading on reputable international platforms.
In reality, the entire system was pre-programmed and directly linked to bank accounts controlled by the syndicate. These “trading platforms” were integrated with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, globally popular financial trading software.
To ensure smooth operations, the syndicate divided personnel into departments such as accounting, HR, IT, sales, and customer support. Each department operated independently but collaboratively, targeting victims primarily through Zalo and Telegram to execute their scams.
Their modus operandi involved providing false information to gain trust, encouraging victims to deposit funds into designated accounts. Initially, victims received “profits” and could withdraw funds, creating a false sense of security.
To defraud victims, the syndicate initially lured them into making multiple low-value trades with profits and withdrawals. They then encouraged victims to increase their trading capital.
Once victims incurred losses or depleted their accounts, the fraudsters provided further false information to maintain trust, urging victims to invest more to “recover” losses. When victims could no longer afford further investments, the syndicate cut off communication, absconding with all deposited funds.
During the investigation, Hanoi Police’s Criminal Investigation Department charged 47 suspects, including 38 for fraud. Four suspects remain at large, subject to international arrest warrants. Authorities seized VND 69 billion in cash, USD 2.3 million, 890 SJC gold bars, 246 kg of gold ingots, VND 156 billion in bank accounts, 41 vehicles (including a recently seized Volvo XC 90), 59 luxury watches, gold jewelry, designer handbags, and froze transactions on 133 properties. The total recovered assets amount to approximately VND 5.315 trillion.
Hanoi Police Collaborate with Philippine Authorities to Arrest and Extradite Mr. Hunter
Lê Khắc Ngọ, known as Mr. Hunter, has been apprehended by Hanoi Police in collaboration with Philippine authorities. The extradition process to return him to Vietnam is currently underway.
