Tuesday, 29/9/2026 | 00:07 GMT+7

Student fakes kidnapping to extort money from family for gambling debt

Phan Van Khai, a 21-year-old university student in Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM), fabricated a kidnapping story to trick his family into transferring approximately 150 million VND to settle his online gambling debts.

On 28/9, the Criminal Police Division (PC02) of Ho Chi Minh City Police handed Phan Van Khai over to An Phu Dong ward police for investigation into gambling activities.

Earlier, Khai's elder brother reported to the police that his younger brother had unusually lost contact. According to the family, before he went missing, Khai was wearing a ride-hhailing uniform and left his rented room on a motorbike. Relatives searched numerous locations without success.

Police then launched a search, followed various clues, and coordinated with the Criminal Police Division of Can Tho City Police. They located Khai at a coffee shop on Vo Van Kiet street in Cai Khe ward.

During questioning, Khai admitted that he had deliberately run away from his family and intended to stage his own kidnapping to demand money from his relatives. The young man revealed he had accumulated about 150 million VND in debt from online gambling.

A review of Khai's phone by police uncovered multiple messages and transfer transactions linked to online gambling activities.

Pham Hai

By VnExpress: https://vnexpress.net/no-co-bac-dung-chuyen-bi-bat-coc-de-xin-tien-gia-dinh-5125932.html

Tags: Ho Chi Minh City gambling kidnapping staged event

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