On 12 June, police in Vientiane dismantled two suspected scam operations in Sikhottabong district, arresting 82 individuals during two coordinated raids on two rental properties in Nonkeo village
The raid was part of an investigation into alleged telecommunications and online fraud activities.
On the first raid, police arrested six suspects, including three Chinese nationals and three Lao nationals. Police said they seized desktop computer sets and mobile phones. On the second raid, authorities arrested 76 suspects, including 75 Chinese nationals and one Lao national.
According to state media, several suspects admitted during initial questioning from police that the group operated various online fraud schemes targeting victims through social media platforms and messaging applications.
According to information published by police on the Lao Security News Facebook page, one method involved creating fake social media profiles using photographs of middle-aged men to build trust with potential victims, mainly Chinese women, through online platforms and messaging applications.
After gaining the victims’ trust through online interactions, victims were allegedly persuaded to purchase USDT (Tether), a cryptocurrency stablecoin whose value is designed to remain pegged to the US dollar and is commonly used for digital payments and transfers. The transfer funds ranging from USD 100 to USD 10,000, once the money was transferred, contact with the victims was reportedly cut off.
State media also reported that another method involved adding victims on Facebook before moving conversations to messaging platforms such as LINE and WhatsApp. Victims were then directed to third-party applications and persuaded to transfer money or share personal information.
Authorities said the suspects and seized equipment remain in police custody while investigations continue. Officers are working to identify additional individuals connected to the operations and determine the full extent of the alleged fraud network.
The operation follows another scam-related crackdown in Sikhottabong district on 26 May, when authorities arrested 19 suspects linked to fake scratch lottery sales and fraudulent online shopping schemes targeting victims through social media and online platforms.
In a separate operation on 11 June, police in Bokeo Province dismantled another suspected scam network and arrested 142 Chinese nationals in Ton Pheung district, according to provincial authorities.
