Dismantling a large-scale scam ring selling lottery numbers via social networks

On April 28, the Criminal Police Department of Nghe An Province Police is temporarily detaining a group of 4 suspects including: Tran Nguyen Thanh (born 2002), Ho Dinh Tu Thuong (born 1996) and Ho Dinh Chinh (born 1987), all residing in Quynh Luu district; Hoang Van Thang (born 1991), residing in Yen Thanh district, in a large-scale fraud case in the form of selling lottery numbers via social networks that the unit has just successfully dismantled.

Police work with one of the subjects. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Previously, through the work of grasping the situation, the Criminal Police Department of the Provincial Police discovered a group of subjects specializing in fraud and property appropriation by fraudulently selling lottery numbers on social networks for large sums of money, with victims in many provinces and cities across the country.

To carry out the fraud, the group created many social network accounts on YouTube such as: "Kim Chi Nam", "Kien Thuc So", "Nam Thanh Phong" to create videos selling lottery numbers with information about winning rates of 90% - 100%, and left their Zalo login names and phone numbers on the YouTube channel to approach people who like this game of chance. After having people become friends, the subjects asked these people to pay a monthly fee of VND 5,000,000/month or VND 2,000,000/week to receive lottery numbers.

04 subjects in the project were arrested by the police. Photo: Hong Ngoc

To avoid detection by authorities, the subjects often travel to southern provinces such as Quang Nam, Da Nang City, Ho Chi Minh City, then rent hotels and use SIM cards and bank cards purchased on social networks to commit crimes.

During the process of synchronously implementing professional measures and collecting evidence, on April 17, 2023, in Da Nang city and Quynh Luu district (Nghe An province), the Criminal Police Department of Nghe An Provincial Police successfully broke up the case, simultaneously arresting the above 4 subjects for fraud and property appropriation. The confiscated exhibits include: 8 mobile phones, 4 laptops, 3 notebooks recording information on fraudulent lottery numbers; 1 audio and voice controller; 6 bank cards...

Evidence seized by the police. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Initially, the police agency proved that, by the above tricks, the group of 4 subjects had defrauded many victims in many provinces and cities across the country such as: Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Hanoi, Ha Nam, Thanh Hoa... with a total amount of money embezzled of more than 800 million VND.

Currently, the Criminal Police Department of Nghe An Provincial Police is continuing to expand the investigation.