Vietnam – Six Filipino citizens are now in pre-trial detention in Ho Chi Minh City after police accused them of running an organized card game scam that preyed on unsuspecting foreign tourists. The group allegedly cheated 18 victims and pocketed roughly US$10,000 over more than a year.
According to a news report, the city’s Criminal Police Division (PC02) has charged the six suspects with “fraudulent appropriation of property.” Officers uncovered the ring after spotting a group of foreigners behaving suspiciously and gathering evidence with help from local ward police.
Who Was Arrested
Police identified all six suspects as Philippine nationals:
- Del Rosario Rafael Macapanas (born 1986) — named as the alleged ringleader
- Pardo Oscar Winkler (born 1950)
- De Vera Diosdado (born 1960)
- Pardo Maria Lanie (born 1975)
- Villarin Bregida (born 1967)
- Bernardino Rolando Lim (born 1975)
Investigators say Macapanas admitted to managing the operation, assigning roles, and dividing the money the group collected from its targets.
How the Scam Worked
The group focused on tourists traveling alone, especially older visitors who were easier to approach. Once they earned a victim’s trust through friendly conversation, they steered the person toward apartments they had rented ahead of time.
Inside, the setup unfolded step by step:
- Victims were invited to join a card game, with accomplices posing as wealthy players.
- Macapanas dealt the cards himself and let the victim win early rounds to build confidence.
- Another member acted as a frustrated loser, pushing to keep playing to win the money back.
- The gang flashed imitation US dollar bills — the kind used as ceremonial paper offerings — to make it look like huge sums were on the table.
- To raise the stakes, suspects pressured victims to “prove their financial capacity” by heading to a bank or ATM and withdrawing real cash.
When the victim returned with the money, the group waited for a distraction — or created one — then swapped or grabbed the cash and fled.
Investigation Still Expanding
Preliminary findings show the ring pulled off 18 scams from May 2025 until the arrests, taking about US$10,000 from multiple international tourists. Police say the case remains open, and the investigation is being widened as authorities look into the full scope of the group’s activities.