On 20/3, Bac Ninh Police announced that the Criminal Police Department recently detained Man Thang Long, 50, residing in Hung Yen; To Minh Quang, 50, from Da Nang; Vuong Minh Cuong, 50, from Ha Noi; and Mai Van Cuong, 43, from Tuyen Quang, to investigate the charge of fraud and appropriation of property.
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Four suspects in the case. *Photo: Police provided* |
According to police, in early 2025, Long observed on social media that many people sought to buy meteorites at high prices, leading him to conceive the idea of fabricating them to defraud money. After making one fake meteorite, Long colluded with Cuong and Vuong to find buyers.
The group targeted wealthy individuals who held blind faith in meteorites. According to their plan, if a customer was found, Long would not directly conduct the transaction. Instead, he would send Quang from the southern region to pose as the seller to sign sales contracts, aiming to enhance credibility and deceive the customer.
When someone agreed to buy, the group demanded transactions take place at designated locations, citing the need for a ritual ceremony before the transaction. During the transaction, Long employed sophisticated tricks to deceive the buyer.
More cunningly, after completing the transaction, they placed the fake "meteorite" into a safe and sealed it. The group instructed the buyer not to open it independently, stating that if they wished to open it, they had to invite the group to perform a ritual. When the buyer repeatedly requested the seal to be opened, they found ways to delay with various excuses.
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Fake meteorite seized. *Photo: Police provided* |
Using these tactics, in May 2025, Long's group defrauded 11 billion VND from a woman in Ha Noi. In early March, the wealthy businesswoman suspected fraud and reported it to the police.
During an urgent search of the suspects' residences, police seized a total amount of nearly 1,6 billion VND, two cars (worth approximately 1,6 billion VND, purchased with the defrauded money), four mobile phones, and various related items.
