The Ha Tinh Provincial Police's Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department announced on 8/10 that a woman lost 600 million VND after falling victim to an online scam. The incident began in early October when she saw a Facebook post recruiting players for a group called "Pickleball Tournament - From the Heart of Vietnam." The group claimed to be a sports event raising funds for a heart surgery charity.
After registering, a person claiming to be a support staff member contacted her and invited her to a group with other "athletes" to perform "charity tasks." These tasks involved buying goods online to support the heart surgery fund. Participants received a private account, accessible via an application, and were promised interest based on their investment. The victim told police she had no suspicions, believing the "product investment" money would go to the heart fund and benefit many in need. Initially, she deposited 3-5 million VND and, minutes later, saw her principal and a small amount of interest reflected in her account.
Within minutes, the alleged staff member contacted her again, advising her to undertake more tasks and invest larger sums for higher returns. After she deposited over 30 million VND, her account began to show errors. The scammer repeatedly called, offering various excuses, and demanded more money to "fix system errors," promising a full refund. "I felt trapped in a matrix," she recounted. Throughout one morning, she continuously transferred money as instructed by the group. Her final transfer was an additional 200 million VND, but when no refund appeared, she stopped and reported the incident to the police. "This was my life savings accumulated over many years," she said.
According to the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department, the perpetrators exploited the public's trust and desire to engage in online charity, using the popular sport of pickleball to set their trap. Sports groups often foster easy interaction and information sharing, making it simpler for scammers to invite members to "charity tasks." Many victims believed they were doing good, unaware they were being drawn into sophisticated schemes that would lead to total financial loss. An investigator noted, "Victims, often feeling embarrassed after losing hundreds of millions of VND, continue to perform tasks in an attempt to recover their losses, and avoid sharing their situation with others to seek help."
Authorities advise the public to verify information about individuals and organizations responsible for online sports groups and tournaments. They urge absolute distrust of online tasks promising returns, emphasizing that "earning money is never that easy." When conducting online transactions, individuals should consult with family members for advice to avoid falling into scams.
Duc Hung
