Vietlott, the Vietnamese state-owned computerized lottery company, published an advisory on 6 October 2025 warning customers that criminals are using its image to steal money1. The company said it had identified two main methods: schemes in which victims complete "revenue tasks" in exchange for commission, and fake accounts impersonating Vietlott that run an "online scratch lottery" and require payment of fees and personal income tax before a prize is released1.
The company stated plainly that it does not run revenue-generation business of any kind and does not ask for any transfer in advance, whether money, prize collection fees or personal income tax1.
"Vietlott KHÔNG kinh doanh các hình thức chạy doanh số"
"Vietlott KHÔNG yêu cầu chuyển khoản trước: tiền, phí nhận thưởng, thuế thu nhập cá nhân"
Vietlott listed the practices it says customers should avoid1:
- taking on revenue tasks for commission
- transferring money, fees or personal income tax in advance to receive a prize
- playing lottery products not issued by Vietlott or buying tickets through unofficial distribution channels1
It directed customers to buy tickets at official points of sale, listed on its website, or through its Vietlott SMS phone channel1. The advisory gives the customer service hotline as 1900.55.88.89 and a telephone number of 024.62.686.818, and notes that Vietlott is a member of the Asia Pacific Lottery Association1.
The advisory did not state how many people have been affected, how much money has been lost, or whether any cases have been reported to police. Those details have not been reported1.
What it means for players
Vietlott is the operator of Vietnam's licensed computerized lottery products, so any account, app, page or message offering Vietlott scratch cards, commission for tasks, or a prize that requires an upfront payment is not coming from the company1. The two demands Vietlott names, a fee to release a prize and personal income tax paid in advance, match the pattern of withdrawal fee scams seen across the region, and the fake-account element fits operator impersonation scams.
For anyone buying lottery tickets in Vietnam, the practical distinction is the channel. Tickets bought at official points of sale or through Vietlott SMS are tied to the company's own records; tickets bought through a page, group or app that merely displays the Vietlott name are not1. The advisory also warns against playing lottery products that Vietlott did not issue, which covers cloned games and number-selling operations described in our guide to lottery scams in Asia. General background on how licensed lotteries work and who may play is in our lotteries section, and country-specific risks are covered in Gambling Scams in Vietnam.
What happens next
Vietlott said customers with questions should contact it through its official fanpage, website or the customer service hotline 1900.55.88.89, and should follow its official information channels for accurate updates1. No deadline, investigation or enforcement step was announced in the advisory1.
