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Vietnamese police arrested 24 suspects on Saturday in connection with a large-scale scam operating from Cambodia, in which victims were deceived into investing in fraudulent online casino platforms. The operation defrauded individuals of trillions of Vietnamese dong, with one trillion dong equaling approximately US$39.5 million.

The suspects, whose identities have not been revealed, are under investigation for using computer networks, telecommunications, and electronic means to commit fraud. The arrests came after a collaborative effort by Tay Ninh police, the Criminal Police Department, and the Border Guard, following the detention of 177 Vietnamese citizens in Cambodia for illegal labor and residency in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province.

The scam was reportedly run by a Chinese national identified as "HeYuki," who rented two floors of a building in Bavet City to operate the fraudulent operation. Employees were organized into specialized roles, including management, sales, and support staff. The scheme targeted Vietnamese victims by sending them a link to a fake online casino website, "Casino Bay Sands," where they were promised substantial winnings by exploiting alleged "system errors" in the casino platform.

Initially, victims who made small deposits received winnings, which encouraged them to invest larger sums. However, once victims deposited substantial amounts, their chances of winning decreased, and their accounts were eventually locked.

One of the arrested suspects, a 36-year-old woman from Soc Trang Province, claimed she was trafficked to Cambodia under the pretext of selling fruit, only to be coerced into working for scam companies. As a "salesperson," she contacted victims, posing as a representative of major businesses, and convinced them that the casino app would "malfunction" at certain intervals, guaranteeing wins during these times. These errors, however, were staged.

Authorities have worked with at least six victims who lost more than VND35 billion in total. The Tay Ninh police, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security, is continuing to investigate the case and uncover the roles of additional suspects involved in the scam.