On 14/4, the Quang Tri Provincial Police's Investigation Security Agency announced the temporary detention of Tran Quang Trong (26), Nguyen Minh Thuan (29, both from Gia Lai), Le Van Ky (31, TP HCM), and Ho Duc The (36, Dak Lak). They are being investigated for using computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic devices to appropriate property and money laundering.

The operation was led by the Quang Tri Provincial Police's Cyber Security Department and the Ministry of Public Security's Cyber Security Department.

Tran Quang Trong, the ringleader, at the investigation agency. Photo: Quang Tri Police.

According to the investigation, since January, Trong and Ky planned to seize control of victims' phone numbers through SIM swaps. These numbers were linked to bank accounts, allowing the group to receive one-time passwords and appropriate funds.

Trong collected information on customers with savings accounts, then forwarded it to Ky to swap onto prepared blank SIM cards. Ky hired Ho Duc The, a telecommunications associate, to perform the illegal swap for 15 million VND per SIM.

After gaining control of the subscriber's account, Trong used devices and software to access bank accounts, bypassing multiple layers of security to transfer money. Thuan helped "launder" the appropriated funds by buying USDT cryptocurrency and circulating it through multiple wallets to conceal its origin.

For example, on 20/1, the group collected information on 15 customers, successfully swapped 13 SIMs, and appropriated money from 7-8 accounts, totaling about 3 billion VND. During this process, the group easily bypassed biometric security systems.

Authorities determined that from January to March, using similar methods, the group appropriated over 23 billion VND. All the money was then converted into cryptocurrency to legalize it and share among themselves.

Dac Thanh