Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time.

Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time.

Add New Post

Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time.

Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time.

Add New Post
in

Urgent: 100 Fraudsters Busted in Vietnam’s Major Scam Raid

Vietnam’s police uncover scam operation, arrest 100 transnational fraudsters

On June 25, authorities in Nghe An announced the apprehension of nearly 100 individuals connected to a global scam that defrauded Vietnamese citizens of more than VND2,000 billion.

Two key suspects were identified among those detained: Phan Dinh Thinh (age 28) and Le Thi Tra (age 24), both hailing from Hung Dao Commune in Hung Nguyen District, Nghe An province.

Investigators disclosed that this criminal network was orchestrated by a foreign leader, with a significant number of Vietnamese participants. It functioned through two branches located in Myanmar and the Philippines.

Each segment of the operation was overseen by a Vietnamese individual, structured like a corporation with synchronized operations, a complex hierarchy, and distinct roles, with compensation linked to rank for effective management.

According to police reports, the scammers received professional training and utilized pre-designed scenarios to prompt victims into transferring funds for purchases on e-commerce platforms, promising substantial commissions.

They also deceived targets through emotional manipulation, establishing friendships and romantic connections to coerce victims.

All fraudsters received training not only in scamming techniques but also in how to handle encounters with law enforcement if apprehended. The total number of individuals involved across both branches surpassed 300.

The gang lured individuals from Vietnam to Myanmar and the Philippines to execute their fraudulent schemes. Members either traveled legally to Thailand and then crossed into Myanmar or flew directly from Vietnam to the Philippines to join the syndicate.

Many suspects created fake social media profiles, often featuring attractive women with affluent lifestyles, targeting successful men on platforms like Facebook to initiate relationships.

Once trust was established, the fraudsters shifted conversations to Viber for deeper interactions. After a couple of days, they encouraged victims to invest by completing tasks, falsely claiming these were part of an e-commerce platform offering gifts (which were actually fictitious operations set up for scamming).

Initially, victims would receive both “commissions and principal” payments to build trust. However, as they became more invested, they were prompted to undertake further tasks involving larger sums, which were never returned due to alleged “system errors” or “syntax issues.” To recover lost funds, victims were pressured to pay additional amounts, ultimately leading to further losses.

The investigation revealed that these tactics resulted in over VND2,000 billion being stolen from Vietnamese citizens.

To combat such scams, police advise the public against acting on financial investment offers encountered online; they suggest:

Individuals should refrain from joining group chats and avoid financial commitments to websites or apps without thorough verification of their credibility.

Moreover, they should never share sensitive information like bank details or passwords online. Any suspected scams should be reported to local law enforcement immediately.

Furthermore, HCM City Police have provided four essential guidelines to prevent falling victim to scams:

Maintain skepticism; do not be afraid; avoid transferring money.

Do not disclose personal information or account credentials.

Confirm information through various sources before proceeding.

Report anything suspicious to local authorities.

Authorities also suggested that schools conduct extra-curricular sessions on how to manage scam calls. Families can engage in role-playing scenarios, like discussing responses to hypothetical requests for money from children, or install tools to block spam calls and warning applications against fraud.

Lawyer Le Van Kien, who leads the Anh Sang Cong Ly Law Office, stated that given the extent of the crimes, both Phan Dinh Thinh, 28, and Le Thi Tra, 24, may face charges of “fraudulent appropriation of property” as outlined in Clause 4, Article 174 of the Penal Code.

This charge carries the maximum penalty stipulated in Article 174, which could involve imprisonment for 12 to 20 years or life sentences.

Additionally, they may face supplementary penalties such as fines ranging from VND10-100 million, prohibition from holding positions, restrictions from certain professions for 1 to 5 years, or the seizure of part or all of their assets.


Report

What do you think?

1.2k Points
Upvote Downvote

Leave a Reply

Avatar

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to Top

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. %privacy_policy%

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.