On 11/8, Phu Tho Province police reported the arrest of Do Dong Hung, 39, and six others for defrauding victims through the "love 2.1" and "connection of love" apps. Operating from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the group created fake profiles on the "connection of love" app featuring images of handsome, successful men, along with fabricated personal details.
After initiating contact, they directed their victims to download "LOTUS CHAT" and a set of rules for a dating club. Those who joined were assigned a virtual "hotboy" who cultivated a relationship with them. Once trust was established, the victims were invited to participate in a "love wheel" reward game. Initially, they were allowed to win small amounts, fostering trust and greed. As victims invested more, they continued to win.
However, attempts to withdraw winnings were met with requests for account activation, followed by fabricated errors like incorrect activation details, invalid OTPs, or required account verification. These tactics were designed to lure victims into depositing more money.
The group’s sole aim was to maximize victim deposits. Once victims were financially depleted, the scammers deleted messages, apps, and blocked contact.
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Do Dong Hung, the leader of the scam operation. Photo: Police Department |
Do Dong Hung, the leader of the scam operation. Photo: Police Department
The "love 2.1" app employed a similar scheme. The group used fake profiles depicting successful IT professionals who claimed to fix software for casinos in Singapore. After befriending their targets, they boasted of exploiting casino security flaws, inviting them to invest together.
Those who agreed were instructed to deposit money through the app and follow specific commands targeting these alleged vulnerabilities. After a few small payouts, they fabricated errors, such as wrong IP addresses or incorrect deposit syntax, to induce further investments, which they then stole.
Police have identified victims across various provinces including Thai Nguyen, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Thanh Hoa, and Vinh Long, with losses totaling hundreds of millions of dong.
