The Investigation Police Agency (IPA) of Thanh Hoa Province’s Public Security office has announced the initiation of legal proceedings and the arrest of Nguyen Thi Dung (born 1995, residing in Hop Thang commune, Trieu Son district, Thanh Hoa province) for the alleged offense of “Production and Trading of Counterfeit Goods.”
EXPOSING THE LIVESTREAM SELLING SCHEME
Prior to this, through monitoring online activities, authorities identified that Nguyen Thi Dung frequently utilized her TikTok account to livestream and promote the sale of well-known branded cosmetics at surprisingly low prices. These livestreams attracted hundreds of viewers and interactions per broadcast, creating a sense of trust and reliability for potential customers.
Suspecting the sale of counterfeit cosmetics, the Investigation Police Agency of Thanh Hoa Province’s Public Security office established a specialized task force. Through verification and investigation, the cosmetic counterfeit ring led by Dung was gradually unveiled.
In collaboration with the Minh Son commune Police and Team 6 of the Market Management Division (under the Thanh Hoa Province Market Management Department), the provincial police conducted an emergency inspection of Nguyen Thi Dung’s residences in two locations within Trieu Son district.
At the rented house in Thon 4, Minh Son commune—which served as a cosmetic “production workshop”—a large volume of evidence was seized, including unidentified chemicals and solutions, empty cosmetic containers, three small mixing machines, seven mixing machine shafts, and various other cosmetic mixing tools.
A subsequent search at Dung’s primary residence in Thon Dong Khang, Hop Thang commune, led to the discovery and confiscation of 256 bottles of cosmetics bearing renowned brand names, encompassing 24 different types of products such as makeup removers, skin creams, acne serums, and skin whitening creams. All of these items were self-produced by Nguyen Thi Dung. Additionally, 122 bottles of cosmetics of uncertain origin, lacking invoices or business licenses, were also seized, suspected to be counterfeit goods intended for market distribution.
SOPHISTICATED SCHEME MANIPULATING CONSUMER PSYCHOLOGY
During the investigation, Nguyen Thi Dung confessed that since December 2024, she had been an active member of numerous Facebook groups dedicated to cosmetic trading. Recognizing the high demand for affordable cosmetics online and the lack of consumer knowledge in distinguishing genuine products from counterfeits, Dung conceived the idea of producing and selling fake cosmetics for profit.
Dung rented a house in Minh Son commune to serve as her mixing facility. To create the counterfeit products, she purchased creams, serums, coloring agents, and fragrances of uncertain origin at low prices via social media (approximately 50,000 VND/kg). She then used handheld mixers to blend the solutions and pour them into bottles and jars bearing the labels of famous brands that she had previously collected.
Dung’s scheme was rather sophisticated. The finished cosmetic products were meticulously labeled and attractively packaged to resemble authentic items. They were then advertised for sale on the fanpage “My Pham pass,” which Dung herself had created, along with promotional livestreams on TikTok, targeting consumers seeking bargain deals.
From the end of 2024 until her arrest, Nguyen Thi Dung successfully sold over 1,000 orders nationwide, earning illicit profits of more than 142 million VND. The Thanh Hoa Province Public Security office is currently expanding the investigation to trace the origins of the chemicals and production equipment, as well as identify any accomplices involved in this cosmetic counterfeit ring.
Counterfeit Cosmetics Flood the “Black Market 4.0”
Social media has become a virtual “flea market” for cosmetics in the 4.0 era. It’s a wild west where consumers are often left with only verbal commitments and little recourse for redress if things go wrong.
“US Preliminarily Concludes Investigation on Vietnamese Imports: Tariffs Slashed to Near Zero”
The Vietnam Trade Defense Department (under the Ministry of Industry and Trade) has announced that the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has released its preliminary conclusion on the ongoing trade investigation.
“How Did Pham Van Cach, Chairman of Son Lam Company, Bribe 71 Billion VND to Get His Drugs into Hospitals?”
“Bribery and corruption are prevalent issues in many societies, and Vietnam is no exception. In a recent scandal, Mr. Pham Van Cach was implicated in a bribery scheme, where he allegedly paid over VND 71 billion in bribes to facilitate the supply of medicines without hindrance. This shocking revelation has once again brought to light the deep-rooted corruption that plagues the nation and the lengths that some individuals will go to in order to achieve their nefarious goals.”
Exploitative Company Owners Charged: Labor Export Fees a ‘Cut-Throat’ Affair
“Hoang Long Joint Stock Company for Investment, Construction, and Manpower Supply, along with its affiliated entities, has been engaged in a pattern of misconduct. The company, granted the authority to organize and manage labor export activities, has blatantly abused its power. Through coercive means, the company forced laborers to pay exorbitant service fees, far exceeding the prescribed cost norms. This unscrupulous practice effectively amounted to the embezzlement of their hard-earned money.”
Unveiling the Counterfeit Cosmetic Empire: Over 100,000 Orders Sold Through Shopee and TikTok
On May 8, the Bac Giang Provincial Police busted a facility producing and trading over 100,000 counterfeit cosmetic units, catering to customers across Vietnam.
