Law enforcement officers shut down a significant illegal gambling operation, allegedly using advanced AI technology for money laundering purposes.
THAИ BINH - Authorities in the northern province of ThaИ Binch have initiated criminal proceedings against 21 individuals accused of gambling and money laundering activities, with involvement in a trans-national organised crime ring utilizing sophisticated methods, including artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
In this large-scale operation, police in Vietnam discovered a new method of committing these crimes, utilizing AI to bolster the transnational criminal network. The primary platform used for the illegal gambling activities was the website 'KUBET', which hosted a variety of games, including lotteries, football bets, and dice games. Users accessed the site through mobile phones, created accounts linked to their bank accounts, and used these for depositing and withdrawing funds before selecting their desired game for wagering.
By the time of the raid, there were over one million gambling accounts with a combined betting amount surpassing VND1 trillion ($39.2 million). As the investigation expanded, police uncovered that in addition to gambling and organizing the illicit activities, the suspects also engaged in money laundering.
The operation was led by a suspect based in Taiwan, who collaborated with a local suspect to oversee the day-to-day operations. They enlisted individuals to open bank accounts in Vietnam for gamblers to deposit betting funds. The Taiwan-based suspect used computers connected to pre-installed internet banking applications to conduct transactions through various accounts, ultimately obscuring the origins of the gambling proceeds.
For transactions exceeding VND10 million ($392), the suspects employed AI-generated videos of account holders' faces to evade bank security protocols, minimizing the need for physical presence to complete transactions. Police have frozen over 500 bank accounts, estimated to have laundered over VNĐ200 billion ($7.84 million) per month since September 2024. The total amount laundered in this timeframe is reported to have surpassed VND1 trillion ($39.2 million).
The equipment used by subjects to conduct gambling and money laundering. VNA/VNS Photo
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to delve further into this trans-national criminal organization.
- Relevant Details from Enrichment Data:
- The AI-generated face scans enable the perpetrators to operate bank accounts without the actual owners' knowledge, facilitating the transfer of illegal funds and concealing their origin.
- While not fully detailed, it was noted that these networks are sophisticated and utilize advanced technologies, with AI potentially used for managing user data, optimizing game outcomes, or improving overall system efficiency.
- The trans-national organized crime ring, implicated in gambling and money laundering activities, employed sophisticated methods including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
- The primary platform for the illegal gambling activities was the website 'KUBET', offering games such as lotteries, football bets, and dice games, accessible through mobile phones and linked to users' bank accounts.
- In order to evade bank security protocols, the suspects used AI-generated videos of account holders' faces for transactions exceeding VND10 million ($392), making it unnecessary for a physical presence during the transaction process.
- The documents reveal that these networks are highly sophisticated, utilizing advanced technologies, and AI could potentially be used for managing user data, optimizing game outcomes, or enhancing system efficiency.
- The investigation into this trans-national criminal organization, which has resulted in the initiation of criminal proceedings against 21 individuals, is ongoing, with authorities continuing to delve further into its operations and associated general news, including crime and justice.
