On February 9th, the Ministry of Public Security has released information stating that the Police Department of Nghệ An Province has successfully led and dismantled a crime scheme, capturing a group of 32 Vietnamese individuals working in Cambodia who falsely claimed to be police officers and judicial officers, making fraudulent calls to deceive and steal assets from Vietnamese citizens across the nation, totaling over 200 billion VND.
To successfully dismantle this criminal network, the coordination of the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security and the police forces of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Thuan Province, Long An Province, and Moc Bai International Border Gate (Tay Ninh Province) was crucial.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, the leader of this criminal scheme is Tang Quang Vinh (born in 1989, residing in Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City). The remaining 31 individuals include 3 individuals located in Ho Chi Minh City: Vu Hoang Minh Tuan (born in 1992), Le Tuan (born in 1996), and Pham Thanh Hau (born in 1996); 2 individuals located in Binh Thuan and Thanh Hoa provinces: Le Van Tam (born in 1998, residing in Tanh Linh District, Binh Thuan Province) and Le Tien Tung (born in 1991, residing in Dong Son District, Thanh Hoa Province).
In Nghệ An Province, there are 26 individuals in total, including 15 individuals residing in Yen Thanh District, 7 individuals residing in Con Cuong District, 3 individuals residing in Dien Chau District, and 1 individual residing in Tan Ky District.
At the police stations, the suspects confessed to committing multiple fraudulent acts, deceiving and stealing assets from Vietnamese citizens residing in various locations nationwide, totaling over 200 billion VND.
Leaders of the criminal group.
Prior to this operation, since July 2023, the Criminal Police Department of Nghệ An Province has discovered several suspicious individuals and organized groups working for foreign companies, engaging in fraudulent activities and stealing assets from Vietnamese citizens in various locations nationwide. The activities of this organized group have caused disturbances in public order and dissatisfaction among the people.
Based on the collected evidence, the authorities have determined that the individuals involved in this criminal scheme are part of an organized criminal gang working for foreign companies, with the common goal of deceiving and stealing assets from Vietnamese citizens. During the investigation, the police identified Tang Quang Vinh as one of the masterminds who manages and coordinates the Vietnamese individuals in collusion with Vietnamese individuals from Nghệ An Province and individuals from Taiwan (China), all operating in foreign companies.
Evidence of the case.
The Vietnamese individuals involved in the asset-stealing fraudulent activities at foreign companies have been organized into 3 lines: D1, D2, and D3.
Among them, D1 individuals will pretend to be officials working in functional agencies and call the victims listed in the pre-arranged announcements, informing them about their SIM cards being blocked and bank accounts being frozen due to their involvement in fraudulent organizations or the use of their bank accounts and phone numbers by fraudulent organizations. Once the victims trust the scenario, the D1 individuals transfer the calls to D2.
D2 individuals will claim to be Lieutenant A – an officer of the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security (or an appropriate unit), informing the victims that their personal documents have been exploited for criminal activities (relevant to the content of D1 calls), requesting cooperation in the investigation, threatening to issue arrest and asset-freezing orders. When the victims are scared, the perpetrators will ask them to declare the current bank accounts and assets (savings books, cash, gold, foreign currency, vehicles, etc.) they possess for verification by the authorities. If the victims do not assist the criminals, their assets will be returned.
After obtaining information about the victims’ bank accounts and passwords, these details will be transferred to D3 (the masterminds and heads of the crime scheme). D3 will demand that the victims go to the bank to register for electronic banking services, read out their login information and OTP codes to the perpetrators, allowing them to seize control of the victims’ electronic bank accounts. Subsequently, the D3 individuals will instruct the victims to withdraw their savings, take out loans, transfer the money to the perpetrators’ bank accounts, and then manipulate the funds in order to steal the assets.
Throughout the entire process of contacting the victims, the perpetrators always demand that the victims keep everything confidential, maintaining independent and discreet communication without notifying anyone else. They frequently keep in contact with the victims to easily manipulate their emotions. The individuals in this fraud scheme operate very discreetly and organizedly. They hold meetings every day to share their scamming experiences, discussing effective ways of communication, statements, and language to achieve higher success rates.
Based on the synchronized operational measures, from 4:30 am to 8:00 am on February 6, 2024, the Special Task Force simultaneously carried out searches and arrests, capturing 32 individuals across different provinces and cities nationwide, along with relevant evidence.
Currently, the Criminal Police Department of Nghệ An Province is continuing the expansion of the operation. The department calls upon individuals who have been victims of this fraudulent group but have not contacted the police to promptly report to the Criminal Police Department of Nghệ An Province for coordination and resolution.
Based on this case, the police authorities advise citizens to be vigilant when receiving calls from unknown phone numbers where the caller claims to be a government official, especially a police officer, to make announcements or request investigations over the phone. Citizens should not provide personal information, phone numbers, residential addresses, etc. to anyone unless their identity and background are clear. If the police, prosecutor’s office, or court need to work with individuals, they will issue an invitation or summons and conduct face-to-face meetings at their respective offices instead of working online.
In case of suspected fraudulent activities or asset theft through cyberspace, internet banking, or mobile banking, citizens are advised to promptly report to the nearest police station.
