Ho Chi Minh City Police announced on 14/10 that they had successfully intervened, rescuing a student manipulated by a high-tech scam group using an "online kidnapping" tactic, and preventing a money transfer from the family.

Yesterday afternoon, a university in the area reported to Ba Ria Ward Police that a student had left his dormitory on the morning of 12/10, exhibiting unusual behavior. He repeatedly contacted home, urging his parents to urgently transfer 1.2 billion VND.

Recognizing signs of fraud, police immediately began searching and found the student at a guesthouse about 30 minutes later.

According to the student's statement, on the morning of 12/10, he received a call from individuals claiming to be investigative agency officials. They informed him he was involved in a money laundering ring. These individuals threatened him with "detention," forcing him to leave his dormitory, rent a room, cut contact with his family, and join a Zoom call for their supervision.

In a state of panic, the student called his parents, requesting them to transfer money to an account specified by the scam group.

To avoid suspicion from the family, the group even fabricated an admission letter for a joint training program with a university in the US. They instructed the student to use the excuse of needing "proof of financial capacity for studying abroad" to convince his parents to transfer 1.2 billion VND.

The student recounting the incident. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police*

Ba Ria Ward Police advised residents, especially students, not to provide personal information, bank accounts, or student ID numbers to strangers. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and courts do not request citizens to transfer money or conduct business via phone or social media in such ways.

When receiving unusual money transfer requests from relatives, families should verify through other channels and immediately report to the nearest police station.

Truong Ha