Six Filipinos detained in Ho Chi Minh City over tourist card‑game fraud

Vietnamese municipal police announced that six Filipino nationals have been arrested and charged with a fraudulent card‑game scheme that targeted foreign tourists in Ho Chi Minh City. The alleged ringleader, Del Rosario Rafael Macapanas, coordinated a group that lured mostly elderly solo travelers to a pre‑arranged venue, staged early wins, and then pressured victims to prove their financial capacity with cash. Using fake banknotes and distraction tactics, the suspects seized the cash, reportedly conducting 18 scams between May 2025 and their detection, with an estimated total loss of about $10,000.

The investigation was carried out by the city’s Criminal Police Department in cooperation with Ben Thanh Ward police. Formal criminal proceedings were opened on 15 July 2026, and the six men were placed in preventive detention while authorities continue to probe the full extent of the operation.