Hanoi police have launched criminal proceedings against the young CEO of a digital marketing company and 17 of his employees over allegations that the business provided services to illegal online gambling platforms by helping them increase traffic and improve their search engine rankings.
The Hanoi Police Department announced on June 2nd that it had initiated a criminal investigation into the alleged illegal provision of information through computer and telecommunications networks. Authorities also approved the prosecution and temporary detention of Pham Ngoc Manh, a 31-year-old resident of O Dien Commune in Hanoi, along with 17 managers and staff members accused of playing active roles in the operation.
According to investigators, Manh was the operator of Super Thi Seo Media Services Co., Ltd., a company that presented itself as a digital marketing agency offering search engine optimization (SEO), website ranking improvement, and traffic generation services. However, police allege that the majority of the company’s customers were operators of illegal websites, particularly online gambling platforms seeking to increase their visibility and attract more users.
Authorities stated that the company had established a structured business operation with dedicated departments covering marketing, SEO, information technology, customer support, and backlink services. The setup allegedly allowed the company to provide large-scale support to unlicensed gambling platforms while maintaining the appearance of a legitimate digital services provider.
Investigators claim that Manh attempted to conceal the company’s financial activities by using 41 electronic wallets to receive payments in the USDT cryptocurrency. Employee salaries were reportedly paid mainly in cash.
During searches linked to the investigation, authorities seized more than VND7 billion ($268,000) in cash and assets converted from cryptocurrency holdings, a savings account containing VND3 billion ($115,000), as well as 29 computers and 41 mobile phones believed to be connected to the operation. Police estimate that from the beginning of 2026 until the network was uncovered, Super Thi Seo Media Services generated around VND3.7 billion ($142,000) in revenue by providing promotion and ranking services to illegal websites.
Investigators identified 22 Vietnamese-language gambling platforms among the websites allegedly supported by the company, none of which had been licensed by Vietnamese authorities. An additional 15 individuals connected to the case have been temporarily prohibited from leaving Vietnam while police continue expanding their investigation. Authorities said further inquiries remain ongoing.
