On 12/1, Duong, a resident of Nghe An, was prosecuted by Da Nang City Police for fraud and appropriation of property.

Police prosecute Trinh Van Duong. Photo: Police provided

According to the investigation, Duong, who was unemployed, set up a Facebook account named "Vuon Cau Xanh" and a Zalo account named "Vuon Cau". He posted images of seedlings to build trust with potential buyers. When customers inquired about purchases, Duong requested a transfer of 10-20% of the order value to a bank account in his name, then blocked contact with them.

In 10/2024, when fresh betel nut prices rose to nearly 100,000 VND per kg, a 36-year-old woman from Lam Dong, who was traveling in Da Nang, contacted Duong through the "Vuon Cau Xanh" group. She intended to purchase 5,000 plants at 7,000 VND per plant. After receiving a 5 million VND deposit, Duong failed to deliver the plants.

Expanding the investigation, police determined that Duong used similar tactics to defraud nearly 40 individuals, appropriating a total of approximately 150 million VND.

In recent years, fresh betel nut prices have occasionally soared to 99,000-104,000 VND per kg, creating a lively market for seedlings and causing many nurseries to sell out. Da Nang City Police have issued a warning, urging residents to exercise caution when purchasing seedlings via social media. They advise against transferring deposit money before verifying the seller's origin and reputation.

Ngoc Truong