Authorities busted a lottery scam ring that defrauded hundreds of billions of dong.

According to the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, through monitoring the online environment, the Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department, in coordination with the Criminal Police Department, discovered a large-scale fraud ring operating nationwide.

The suspects rented a space at room 503, K300 Office building, 51 Thep Moi Street, Bay Hien Ward, Ho Chi Minh City to organize their fraudulent activities.

Despite not registering as a business or household business, the group used the fake company name "Power International Investment Center" as a cover to gain trust, approach, and lure victims.

Accordingly, the perpetrators make phone calls following a pre-written script, informing victims that they have won cash prizes or valuable gifts such as televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. However, to receive the prize, the victims are forced to purchase the "company's" products at prices much higher than their actual value.

On October 23, 2025, the Investigation Police Department of Thanh Hoa province issued a decision to initiate a criminal case and prosecute nine defendants for the crime of "Fraudulent appropriation of property".

Expanding the investigation, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, in coordination with other professional units, summoned, interrogated, and questioned 31 individuals belonging to various "companies," led by Nguyen Doanh Thuong (born in 1983, residing in An Phu Dong ward, Ho Chi Minh City), who self-proclaimed himself "chairman."

According to initial investigations, from January 2024 to December 2025, these groups defrauded approximately 1,000 victims nationwide, appropriating an estimated hundreds of billions of VND.

To date, the Police Investigation Agency has initiated criminal proceedings, indicted suspects, and temporarily detained 35 individuals for the crime of fraud and appropriation of property, while continuing to expand the investigation into the case.