Lao Cai Provincial Police announced on 14/6 the arrest of 19 Chinese nationals involved in an online property fraud scheme. The group was apprehended at the Song Hong View Hotel in Lao Cai ward.

Police arresting the group of Chinese nationals involved in the scam. *Photo: Police provided*

In 6/2026, Lao Cai Provincial Police identified the 19 individuals who had entered Vietnam from Cambodia through the Moc Bai border gate in Tay Ninh. They subsequently traveled to Lao Cai, where they rented multiple rooms at the Song Hong View Hotel on Duyen Hai street. Surveillance indicated that the group had previously engaged in property fraud networks in Cambodia, led by Wang Xiang Sheng, 45, from Fujian province. On 10/6, the group set up 5G broadcasting equipment, computers, and other tools for their fraudulent activities at the hotel. The computers came pre-installed with Chinese social media applications like Teleglam and 69yue.

Investigations revealed their primary tactic: impersonating Chinese loan applications to target and defraud victims. The group posed as employees of these loan applications, contacting individuals seeking funds and then defrauding them of their assets.

Numerous exhibits seized. *Photo: Police provided*

On 12/6, all 19 individuals were apprehended while actively operating their scheme at the Song Hong View Hotel. Police confiscated 23 laptops, 26 mobile phones, 8 5G broadcasting devices, and 16 USB drives containing operating systems.

Preliminary findings indicate the group had gathered information on approximately 25,000 Chinese citizens to support their fraudulent activities.

The target of this group of Chinese nationals was compatriots needing loans. *Photo: Police provided*