On the morning of August 3, Ms. Nguyen Thi M., born in 1955 and residing in Dong Xuan, Thanh Ba district, received a call from an unknown person claiming to be an “investigator from the Ministry of Public Security” on her personal phone.
The caller informed her that she was under investigation for a case involving the “trading of substandard medical equipment and theft of property.” They then connected her to another individual named Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Van Toan, allegedly a police officer from Thanh Ba district (a name used by the scammers). During the call, they requested her personal information, including her background, family economic condition, bank loans, and personal accounts.
Ms. M recounts her experience.
The scammers instructed her not to involve any third parties or report the incident to the police, threatening to inform her family and damage her reputation if she did not comply. When they learned that she had 15 million VND in savings, they demanded that she transfer the money to them. Fearing for her reputation, Ms. M considered complying with their demands and heading to the Agribank in Thanh Ba district to make the transfer.
However, her suspicions grew, and she decided to consult the Thanh Ba district police instead. There, an officer on duty clarified that she was, in fact, a target of a scam attempt and guided her on how these scammers operate, helping her avoid falling victim to their scheme and protecting her assets.
The authorities advise residents to be vigilant as scammers’ tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They prey on unsuspecting and gullible individuals to steal their assets. It is crucial to be aware of the signs and methods of deception conveyed through various media to avoid becoming a victim of such scams.
