Vietnamese police have detained an Iranian suspect for using a trick to steal US$800 from a sports shop in Ho Chi Minh City.

Authorities in the city's District 11 on Wednesday announced the arrest of Hesmati Norouz, a 43-year-old Iranian national, for allegedly scamming a sales assistant at a badminton shop on Lac Long Quan Street.

According to the case file, the incident occurred around 9:00 pm on February 2. 

D.H.H., 23, was working at the store when Norouz entered and began browsing badminton rackets. He eventually selected one priced at VND1.3 million ($51.7) and told H. that he would pay in U.S. dollars, handing over a $100 bill.

During the transaction, Norouz pointed to the cash register and requested change in Vietnamese dong.

He then distracted H. by gesturing repeatedly toward the cash drawer and speaking rapidly in English.

As H. held a stack of Vietnamese money in her hands, Norouz grabbed it and began shuffling through the bills while continuing to speak incessantly, causing her to lose focus.

After a brief exchange, he pretended to be dissatisfied and decided not to purchase the racket, returning the stack of cash to H..

However, during this process, he discreetly used his left hand to extract a portion of the money while his right hand held his wallet to block H.’s view.

When she took back the stack, Norouz slipped the stolen cash into his wallet and placed it in his bag.

The man then took the $100 bill back from H. and left the store immediately.

Shortly afterward, H. recounted the money and discovered that VND20 million ($800) was missing.

Upon receiving the report, District 11 police quickly responded, examining the scene, reviewing security camera footage, and coordinating with other agencies to track down the suspect.

Less than 48 hours after the incident, at 5:30 pm on February 4, officers from District 11 and Tan Binh District conducted an administrative check at an apartment in Tan Binh, where Norouz was staying. He was then brought in for questioning.

Initially, Norouz provided evasive statements and denied the crime, but he later admitted to using the ‘money-splitting’ trick to steal from the shop.

Police recovered the stolen VND20 million from Norouz and returned it to H., who thanked the authorities.

Sen. Lieut. Col. Tran Van Phuoc, deputy chief of District 11 Police, urged citizens to remain vigilant during transactions.

“Foreign scammers often exploit language barriers to create confusion, causing sellers to lose focus and let their guard down, making it easier for them to carry out their scams,” he warned.

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