Authorities in Thai Binh province have dismantled Vietnam’s first AI-powered gambling and money laundering operation. On May 30, police officially indicted 21 individuals connected to the transnational ring, which had processed more than VND 1 trillion (roughly US $40 million) in illegal gambling transactions.

The investigation began months earlier, targeting the website “KUBET,” which operated through servers hosted overseas. The site attracted over a million users accessing various games, including online lotteries and football betting. Participants used mobile phones to create accounts linked to local bank accounts for smooth payments.

AI Used to Evade Biometric Security

What shocked authorities most was the group’s use of artificial intelligence to defeat banking security measures. As Vietnamese banks tightened rules on valuable transactions by imposing biometric authentication on transfers over VND 10 million, the criminal network adapted quickly.

The group created AI-generated videos to impersonate account holders. These fake videos matched the facial recognition systems used by banks, allowing operators to authorize transactions without needing the actual account owners to be present. This method gave the network a powerful tool to continue moving large sums without raising immediate suspicion.

International Coordination and Money Laundering

The operation’s reach expanded beyond Vietnam’s borders. Investigators found that members of the ring had partnered with individuals in Taiwan. The overseas operators controlled computers and mobile devices pre-installed with online banking apps. Using these devices, they transferred gambling funds between dozens of bank accounts to cover their tracks.

The group also hired people within Vietnam to open hundreds of accounts. These were used as entry points for gambling deposits. Authorities estimate that the ring laundered over VND 200 billion each month using this strategy.

Presently, more than 500 bank accounts have been frozen. Police claim these accounts were directly linked to gambling and laundering activity between September 2024 and April 2025, when the total transaction volume exceeded VND 1 trillion.

New Challenges for Law Enforcement

Officials view this case as a turning point in Vietnam’s fight against cybercrime. The combination of artificial intelligence and international coordination marks a significant increase in criminal tactics. 

A representative of Thai Binh police commented that the case highlights growing risks in digital banking and the urgent need to strengthen financial security. “This is not just a gambling case. It’s a warning about how technology can be misused on a large scale,” the official said.

Investigations are ongoing, with further arrests expected. Authorities urge the public to be cautious when using online platforms that request sensitive banking information, as more criminal groups turn to advanced technology. This case has set a standard for responding to AI-driven threats in the future.