Couple Arrested for Spiritual Scam Selling Lottery Results, Defrauding Thousands

The Dak Lak Provincial Police in Vietnam arrested a couple who exploited spiritual beliefs to sell lottery results and defraud thousands of people of billions of Vietnamese dong. The suspects used livestreams with spiritual themes to create trust and sold lucky numbers for 80,000-500,000 VND each.

Overview of the Scam

The Dak Lak Provincial Police in Vietnam arrested a couple who exploited spiritual beliefs to sell lottery results and commit fraud. The suspects, Truong Minh Hoang (32 years old) and Duong Kim Sang (33 years old), both from District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, defrauded thousands of people from June 2025 onward, resulting in billions of Vietnamese dong in losses.

How the Scam Works

Building Trust

The suspects used multiple methods to gain victims' trust:

Livestream Broadcasting: Conducted livestreams on social media with spiritual themes and mystical atmospheres
False Authority Claims: Claimed to receive guidance from "higher beings" or "spirits"
Lottery Prediction: Falsely claimed to have the ability to predict lottery results in advance
Religious Venue Association: Visited temples and conducted religious activities to enhance credibility
Social Media Promotion: Posted predicted numbers online to attract viewers and generate interest

The Fraud Process

Viewers engage with livestream content through comments
Scammers call interested individuals directly
Offer to sell "lucky sets" (called "lộc") priced between 80,000-500,000 Vietnamese dong
Victims pay the requested amount
The predicted numbers fail to win, but payment has already been collected

Warning Signs

Be alert to these red flags:

Promises of Lottery Predictions: No one can predict lottery results in advance
Spiritual or Supernatural Explanations: References to "spirit guidance" or "divine direction" are irrational
Guaranteed Winning Assurances: Claims of guaranteed wins are classic fraud indicators
Payment Before Results: Money collected before lottery results are revealed
Multiple Social Media Accounts: Same content promoted across numerous accounts

Prevention Tips

Understand Impossibility: Lottery outcomes cannot be predicted or known in advance
Verify Credibility: Check the provider's background through independent, reliable sources
Confirm Before Paying: Never pay money without independent verification from trusted sources
Resist Urgency: Don't respond to pressure tactics claiming limited-time opportunities
Seek Second Opinions: Consult trusted family members or friends before making decisions

Where to Report

If you are a victim of this scam in Vietnam, report it to:

Dak Lak Provincial Police (Công an tỉnh Đắk Lắk)
Local police station
Online fraud reporting centers