Da Nang employee of Thế Giới Di Động detained for iPhone theft and Bitcoin investment

Police in Da Nang have detained 22‑year‑old Trần Bá Trường, a staff member of the Thế Giới Di Động retail chain, on suspicion of large‑scale theft. Investigators say he covertly removed 28 brand‑new iPhone devices from warehouse stock in early May and sold them, using the proceeds to fund personal investments in Bitcoin and online gambling, which he subsequently lost.

The investigation uncovered that Trường also employed deceptive tactics to seize an additional 56 smartphones from other Thế Giới Di Động outlets. He fabricated bogus sales orders, prompted colleagues to generate QR‑code payment invoices, and then used the company's sales account and stolen OTP codes to validate the transactions and appropriate the devices. Authorities have recovered three of the stolen phones and are continuing to trace the remaining assets. The police warning highlights the need for stricter internal controls, secure OTP handling, and vigilance against internal fraud.

The case underscores growing concerns about employee‑spearheaded cyber‑thefts and the misuse of illicit cryptocurrency investment funds within Vietnam’s retail sector.