Pham Ngoc Manh, 31, director of Sieu Thi Seo Media Company, was arrested by the Hanoi Police Criminal Investigation Department for allegedly promoting illegal online gambling platforms. He, along with 17 managers and employees who played an active role, have been detained for investigation into the crime of Illegally Spreading Computer Network, Telecommunication Network Information under clause 2, article 288 of the Penal Code.
In connection with the case, authorities prohibited 15 other individuals from leaving the country to assist with the ongoing investigation.
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Suspects arrested. Photo: Police provided |
Suspects arrested. Photo: Police provided
Initial investigations revealed that Sieu Thi Seo Media Services Co., Ltd., led by Manh, was registered to provide services for increasing search rankings and website traffic on the Internet. However, most of the company's clients were websites featuring illegal content, particularly those organizing online gambling.
Manh's company undertook to help these websites reach a wider user base and improve their search engine rankings. To achieve this, Manh directed his managers and subordinates to build a system that generated numerous "backlinks", articles, and promotional content across the internet.
Police assessed that the company operated professionally, structured with distinct departments such as marketing, customer care, SEO, IT, and Backlink. Each personnel group was assigned specific tasks to ensure the smooth execution of their operations.
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Cash seized. Photo: Police provided |
Cash seized. Photo: Police provided
To conceal the flow of funds, Manh utilized 41 e-wallets on various cryptocurrency platforms to receive payments in USDT from clients. Furthermore, employee salaries were primarily disbursed in cash, avoiding bank transfers.
Through these methods, Manh's company earned approximately 3.7 billion dong from early 2026 until the time of its discovery. This revenue primarily stemmed from promoting and boosting the search rankings for illegal websites, including 22 gambling platforms operating in Vietnamese without proper licensing from authorities.
During searches of Manh's residence and other related locations, police seized over 7 billion dong, comprising cash and assets converted from cryptocurrency, along with a savings book valued at 3 billion dong, 29 computers, and 41 mobile phones.
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Evidence seized. Photo: Police provided |
Evidence seized. Photo: Police provided
According to the police, this case serves as a warning to individuals who exploit online advertising and SEO services to facilitate websites violating the law, especially online gambling sites. This behavior is considered to negatively impact security, public order, and safety in cyberspace.
