Lottery Ticket Agents in Vietnam Targeted by Ticket Alteration Scams

Overview of the Scam

A lottery ticket alteration fraud scheme has emerged in Ha Giang Province, Vietnam, targeting legitimate lottery agents. Fraudsters exploit gaps in the sales process by modifying customer-submitted numbers to match actual lottery results, thereby fraudulently claiming prizes.

How the Scheme Operates

Scammers execute this fraud through the following steps:

1. Initial Purchase: A customer purchases lottery tickets but claims to be in a hurry. Rather than following standard procedures, the scammer uses their own pen to write a number directly into the agent's transaction record.
2. Waiting for Results: After the lottery drawing is announced the following day, the scammer returns to the agent's shop under the pretense of verifying their numbers.
3. Record Alteration: While the agent is distracted with other tasks or obscured from view, the scammer erases and modifies the original number in the record book to match the actual winning result.
4. Fraudulent Claim: Using the altered record as evidence, the scammer demands payment of the fraudulent prize.

In mid-July 2026, a female lottery agent in Ha Giang District 1 fell victim to this scheme, losing over 8 million Vietnamese dong.

Warning Signs

• Customers who resist or refuse standard ticket-writing procedures
• Individuals who insist on writing their own numbers or avoid allowing agents to record their selections
• Customers who return quickly after lottery results are announced to verify numbers
• Unusual behavior or attempts to distract the agent during verification
• Evidence of erasures or alterations in transaction records

Prevention Measures

The Ha Giang Construction Lottery Company and authorities recommend the following safeguards:

• Strict Protocol: Never allow customers to write directly in transaction records
• Standardized Procedures: Only authorized staff members may record customer-selected numbers
• Enhanced Documentation: Implement dated entries, timestamps, and staff signatures for every transaction to prevent unauthorized modification
• Heightened Vigilance: Immediately report any suspicious customer behavior or unusual access attempts
• Regular Audits: Conduct periodic third-party verification of all transaction records

With approximately 400 lottery agents operating in the province, authorities warn that this emerging fraud method could spread rapidly.

Reporting

If you suspect fraud or witness suspicious activity:

• Report immediately to your local lottery company management
• Contact local law enforcement or public security authorities
• File a report with the appropriate provincial administrative agencies
• Provide detailed descriptions of suspicious individuals and their behavior