On 30/8, Son and Cao Thanh Lap, 29, were detained by the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division for loan sharking.

Hoang Ngoc Son and Cao Thanh Lap at the police station. Photo: Police Department.

The investigation revealed that Son and his accomplices used private groups on Zalo and Facebook to offer loans with interest rates ranging from 20% to 40% per month, far exceeding the legal limit. Borrowers were forced to provide their national ID cards, iCloud accounts, or nude photos and videos as collateral.

If payments were late, the group would harass borrowers with messages and calls, post their sensitive images on social media, send them to friends and family, or even visit their homes to threaten and verbally abuse them.

Around 10 women reported being coerced into taking nude photos and videos as collateral for loans from Son's group.

The Criminal Investigation Division has determined that this loan sharking group profited significantly and is expanding its investigation.

Quoc Thang