On 9/9, the Criminal Police Department (C02) of the Ministry of Public Security announced the indictment of 23 more individuals for property fraud, bringing the total number of defendants in the case to 147.
In addition to the above charge, the ringleader Tran Quang Dao was also indicted for the illegal provision and use of information on computer networks and telecommunications networks.
C02 has determined that the majority of victims in this case are elderly people living on pensions, savings, or family support. The total amount of money Dao's group swindled amounts to hundreds of billions of Vietnamese dong (VND), making this the largest fraud ring ever dismantled.
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Tran Quang Dao. Photo: Provided by the police |
In mid-June, C02 coordinated with Ho Chi Minh City Police in a multi-pronged operation, simultaneously arresting suspects and searching four of Dao's company offices and warehouses. Police found over 200 employees (149 of whom were women) engaged in fraudulent activities, and seized over 500 phones of various types along with numerous documents, books, materials, and other items.
Investigators identified the criminal gang operating under the guise of legitimate businesses, with a tightly organized structure and the largest number of perpetrators ever dismantled in a single operation. Hundreds of thousands of victims, mostly elderly, fell prey to Dao and his accomplices, with the total amount defrauded reaching hundreds of billions of VND.
The scam involved impersonating nutrition institute staff and offering free bird's nest soup and milk. Dao enlisted relatives to establish four e-commerce and online sales companies: Ressun Trading and Service Co., Ltd., Resshose Tiktok Shop, Rees Mark Co., Ltd., and Lesson Trading and Service Co., Ltd. He recruited hundreds of employees in management, sales, and customer service roles. The group also collected and purchased personal data of elderly individuals in need of healthcare.
Dao's employees called those whose data they had, posing as staff from nutrition institutes, medical centers, or vaccination facilities. They informed these individuals that they were on a list to receive free bird's nest soup, milk, and other nutritional products. If the target agreed, the group would send a box of bird's nest soup and request a 270,000 VND shipping fee.
Having completed the first step, the group would then inform the victims that they were "lucky winners" of a massage chair worth 76 million VND or other high-value healthcare appliances. However, the condition for receiving the prize was to present the shipping fee receipt as proof of purchase.
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Tran Quang Dao's 4 companies with over 200 employees (149 of whom were women) were identified as operating fraudulently. Photo: Ministry of Public Security |
If the victim agreed to accept the massage chair prize, Dao's employees would ask for a 990,000 VND fee for "information transfer," promising a refund upon receipt of the gift. From there, the victims were lured into paying various other fees, such as taxes and customs duties, amounting up to 10 million VND.
Having already paid the initial amount and eager to receive the valuable gift, most victims complied with the demands. Ultimately, they never received any goods.
C02 has determined that since 2023, Dao's group has defrauded hundreds of thousands of people using this tactic. The victims are primarily elderly individuals with low incomes, reliant on pensions, savings, or family support. They desire healthcare but lack social and technological awareness.
Quoc Thang
