Group posing as a debt-buying company charged with asset extortion in Ho Chi Minh City

During an expanded investigation into an asset extortion case involving Ho Thanh Được and accomplices, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Department identified additional asset-extortion acts carried out by a group affiliated with Nhất Tín Debt Purchase Co., Ltd. The acts took place in Tam Long ward and the Ba Ria market area of Ho Chi Minh City.

How the debt-collection operation was carried out

According to the investigation, Nhất Tín Debt Purchase Co., Ltd., led by director Ho Minh Đạt (born 1972), together with his wife Nguyen Thi Giang and many employees, organized unlawful debt-collection activities. The group used the name of “debt purchase contracts” to legitimize its operations, but the investigation determined that the activity was in fact debt collection with a share ranging from 30% to 50%.

The suspects produced sets of documents—“debt purchase contracts”—to support the debt-collection scheme. Through a connection with Nguyen Trung Duc (born 1978), Đạt’s group pursued a debt of about 70 billion VND involving Ms. N.T.B.T and Ms. T.T.B.B. After signing the sham contract, the suspects repeatedly visited the victim’s home and business to harass, threaten, and apply emotional pressure to force repayment.

Escalation and intimidation tactics

From late July 2025 to early October 2025, the group mobilized many people, wearing company uniforms, displaying tattoos, and traveling by car to the victim’s home and store. They gathered in large crowds, loudly threatened, and obstructed business operations. Some individuals assaulted others, damaged property, and intimidated family members and staff to compel payment.

The group operated in multiple teams, continuously rotating duties across locations while maintaining pressure. The victim reported feeling frightened and experiencing serious disruption to life and business operations.

Charges and defendants

Based on documents and evidence collected, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Department charged Nguyen Trung Duc with asset extortion under Clause 4, Article 170 of the Penal Code. Eight co-defendants were also charged and remanded for the same offense: Ho Minh Dat, Nguyen Thi Giang, Dang Viet Dung, Nguyen Khac Trung, Hoang Van Cuong, Dang Thanh Vuong, Ho Quang Vinh, and Tran Van Hoa.

Seized evidence and ongoing investigation

Seized items include multiple debt-purchase contracts, company seals, uniforms used in debt collection, and vehicles used to commit the offenses. Police said they are continuing to investigate related individuals, including some who have fled.

Earlier prosecution and the structure of the scheme

Earlier, at the end of 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department (Investigation) prosecuted the case, indicted suspects, and issued arrest warrants for 20 individuals, including Ho Thanh Được (born 1991; currently in Thới An ward) for asset extortion.

The group operated through three entities—Nhất Tín Debt Purchase Co., Ltd.; Nhất Tín Security - Guard - Debt Purchase 620 Co., Ltd.; and Nhất Tín Debt Purchase Đất Bắc Co., Ltd.—to sign fake debt-purchase contracts with individuals holding debts that were difficult to collect. The purpose was to legitimize and conceal debt-collection activities.

Investigators also noted that group members wore uniforms, used cars bearing logos of debt-purchase companies, and repeatedly went to victims’ homes shouting and overpowering them until payment was obtained. Some members were assigned to record the debt-collection process, edit and trim clips into short videos posted on Được’s social media accounts, which drew hundreds of thousands of views and comments.