During a trip from north to south Vietnam, at 5 a.m. on 16/9, upon reaching Khanh Cuong commune, bus driver Ta Cong Luan noticed the Duc Pho Traffic Police Station checkpoint and proactively stopped his bus. He reported a 16-year-old boy he suspected was a victim of a job scam.

Speaking with the police, the boy explained he had dropped out of school. While searching for jobs online, he encountered an account that instructed him to go to the Nuoc Ngam bus station in Hanoi and board a bus to Ho Chi Minh City.

After boarding the bus, the teen sent a photo to the online contact as proof, and received 400,000 VND for food and drinks. He was also instructed to delete all messages.

During the journey, Luan and his assistant noticed the boy, who was underage and traveling alone to the south, appeared confused and anxious, which drew their attention.

The Duc Pho Traffic Police Station collaborated with the Quang Ngai Provincial Police to exchange information with the Tien Phong Ward Police in Bac Ninh. They learned the boy’s family was searching for him.

At noon, the teen’s father arrived at the Duc Pho Traffic Police Station to take his son home. The Tien Phong Ward Police in Bac Ninh are continuing to investigate the incident.

Pham Linh