On July 23, the Criminal Police Department (PC02) of the Ho Chi Minh City Police is expanding its investigation into a "Fraudulent appropriation of property" case committed by a group of foreign nationals in the area.
The Ho Chi Minh City Police Investigation Agency has initiated criminal proceedings, indicted and temporarily detained six individuals for the crime of "Fraudulent appropriation of property," including: Del Rosario Rafael Macapanas (born in 1986, the ringleader), Pardo Oscar Winkler (born in 1950), De Vera Diosdado (born in 1960), Pardo Maria Lanie (born in 1975), Villarin Bregida (born in 1967), and Bernardino Rolando Lim (born in 1975, all of Philippine nationality).On July 23, the Criminal Police Department (PC02) of the Ho Chi Minh City Police is expanding its investigation into a "Fraudulent appropriation of property" case committed by a group of foreign nationals in the area.
The Ho Chi Minh City Police Investigation Agency has initiated criminal proceedings, indicted and temporarily detained six individuals for the crime of "Fraudulent appropriation of property," including: Del Rosario Rafael Macapanas (born in 1986, the ringleader), Pardo Oscar Winkler (born in 1950), De Vera Diosdado (born in 1960), Pardo Maria Lanie (born in 1975), Villarin Bregida (born in 1967), and Bernardino Rolando Lim (born in 1975, all of Philippine nationality).Previously, through intelligence gathering in the area, detectives from Team 5 of the PC02 Department, in coordination with the Ben Thanh Ward Police, discovered a group of foreigners exhibiting suspicious behavior and proceeded to investigate and gather evidence.
According to the investigation results, this group targeted solo foreign tourists, mainly elderly people. After approaching, befriending, and gaining their trust, the perpetrators lured the victims to a pre-rented apartment.
There, the group enticed the victims to participate in card games. The "bait" pretended to be wealthy players. The ringleader, Del Rosario Rafael Macapanas, directly dealt the cards, deliberately arranging them to ensure the victims won repeatedly to trick them into taking the bait.
Next, the person playing the loser would feign resentment, demand to continue playing to recoup their losses, and present counterfeit "ghost money" to represent high-value assets.
To play bigger games, the perpetrators required victims to "prove their financial means" by withdrawing cash from banks or ATMs. When the victims brought the money, taking advantage of their carelessness or the perpetrators intentionally creating a diversion, they quickly swapped the money, stole it, and escaped.
At the police station, Del Rosario Rafael Macapanas confessed to leading the operation, assigning tasks, and distributing the stolen money.
Initially, investigators determined that from May 2025 until their arrest, this gang successfully carried out 18 scams, stealing approximately $10,000 from numerous international tourists.