On 13/11/2024, the Da Nang Police Criminal Investigation Department arrested Thanh on charges of fraud and appropriation of property.

Suspect Nguyen Ngoc Thanh. *Photo: Police provided.*

According to a complaint from 36-year-old Ms. Khanh, Thanh introduced himself as the general director of Y An Khang Joint Stock Company, offering a land plot in the "Cella Central project" for over 6.5 billion VND. Believing the documents and promises, from 8/2022, she repeatedly transferred nearly 6 billion VND to accounts provided by Thanh.

Investigators determined this "project" did not exist. Thanh drew up fake subdivision maps and presented forged documents to build trust. The advertised land plot was mortgaged with a bank and its transaction was temporarily suspended by a court decision. When the contract signing deadline arrived, Thanh evaded, citing "title deed not yet issued" as an excuse to prolong the process. By 9/2023, the victim reported Thanh's actions.

Police identified this as a familiar scam tactic involving creating 'ghost projects', impersonating corporate titles, and using self-created drawings to defraud buyers. Police advised people to only conduct transactions with projects that have clear legal standing and to verify information with authorities to avoid losing money on 'virtual' projects.

Ngoc Truong

* Victim's name has been changed