On 14/4, Dien Bien Provincial Police announced the dismantling of a transnational high-tech scam operation, arresting 55 Vietnamese suspects and four Chinese nationals. Duong Van Ha was identified as the mastermind behind the scheme.

According to police, this criminal organization, led by Chinese individuals and in collusion with Vietnamese accomplices, relocated from Cambodia to Phieng Ngam village, Ton Phong district, Bokeo province, Laos, to continue its fraudulent activities.

Recognizing the severe nature of the case, Dien Bien Provincial Police established a special investigation unit. They coordinated with the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security and Bokeo Provincial Police in Laos to dismantle the operation.

55 Vietnamese suspects are escorted through Tay Trang international border gate. Photo: Public Security provided

The special investigation unit determined that over approximately 20 days, the group defrauded more than 5,000 victims, seizing over 15 billion VND. Their method involved creating fake websites and numerous virtual social media accounts. They then used international roaming burner SIMs to call victims, impersonating "delivery personnel related to vaccination."

To gain trust, the scammers provided accurate personal information and requested victims transfer a few thousand dong to confirm orders. Subsequently, the group fabricated reasons such as "mistakenly subscribed services" and threatened monthly deductions to lure victims into accessing fake links and transferring money to cancel these nonexistent services.

Following a pre-arranged script, the scam group gradually seized all assets, even enticing victims to take out credit loans. Once the money was obtained, they blocked all communication with the victims.

Police searched and seized numerous related items and documents. Photo: Public Security provided

On the evening of 10/4, the special investigation unit apprehended 55 Vietnamese and four Chinese nationals in the act of committing crimes. The arrests took place in a shared office space across two buildings in Bokeo province, Laos.

At the scene, police confiscated hundreds of electronic devices, burner SIMs, computers, and detailed scam scripts, organized like a clandestine enterprise. Subsequently, all suspects and evidence were transferred to Vietnam via the Tay Trang border gate in the early morning of 12/4 for further investigation.

The four Chinese nationals were handed over to Bokeo Provincial Police to be dealt with according to Lao law.