On 18/8, a group posing as police officers repeatedly called a teenage girl in Tan An ward, Can Tho city, claiming she was implicated in criminal activity and faced arrest. They instructed her to download an app, engage in video calls, and provide proof of assets as evidence of her innocence.

The group then directed the victim to secretly sell or pawn her family's valuables and transfer 466 million VND to a designated account. They then told her to isolate herself from her family and instructed her to tie herself up in a motel room and send them pictures.

The "online kidnappers" messaged the victim's father demanding a 300 million VND ransom. (*Photo provided by the police*)

Later that day, they contacted the girl's father, sending him photos of his bound daughter and demanding a 300 million VND ransom, threatening to sell her to Cambodia for 20,000 USD if he didn't comply.

Upon receiving the report, Tan An ward police collaborated with Can Tho city police and Cai Khe ward police. They located the girl at a motel in Cai Khe ward and safely returned her home at 10 PM.

Recently, there has been a surge in "online kidnapping" cases perpetrated by overseas cybercrime rings. Their targets are often students or young, inexperienced individuals. The Ministry of Public Security and local police departments have issued warnings and guidance on how to respond, yet many still fall prey to these scams.

Authorities advise the public to never provide personal information, bank account details, or OTP codes to anyone claiming to be a police officer or prosecutor. Do not comply with requests for isolation, hotel stays, or installing unfamiliar apps – these are the first steps towards "online kidnapping". If you are suspicious, remain calm, end the call, and contact 113 or the nearest police station.

Parents and schools are urged to educate students, who are the primary targets of these cybercriminals, about these tactics and warn them against following any instructions received over the phone.

An Binh