On 14/7, Ho Chi Minh City Police, in coordination with Tan Binh Ward Police, rescued a 21-year-old student from an "online kidnapping" and are pursuing those involved.

Image of the student self-torturing for the criminals' ransom video. Photo: Police provided

Police received a report from Thanh's family about their son's unusual kidnapping and ransom. The day before, Thanh told his parents he'd received a scholarship to study in Canada and needed 750 million VND for financial verification. He claimed the family only needed to provide 400 million VND, with the remaining amount covered by the school.

Thanh also sent his family a 2025 student exchange program notification from Sheridan College (Canada). Believing him, his parents transferred 400 million VND to his account.

The next morning, Thanh informed his family the school wouldn't provide the additional funds and he needed another 350 million VND to complete his application or risk losing the scholarship. Suspecting a scam, his family refused.

Later that day, Thanh video-called his family from inside a car, claiming he was kidnapped and needed 500 million VND for his release. After that, the family couldn't reach him.

Dozens of officers investigated, locating Thanh alone in a Tay Ninh Province hotel room that night, with no signs of kidnapping. He then realized he'd fallen victim to an online scam.

How the victim was manipulated

Thanh told investigators he received a call from someone claiming to be an investigator, stating he was implicated in a recently busted bank account information trafficking ring. When Thanh denied involvement, the caller instructed him to download Zoom and join a video call via a provided ID.

To "prove his innocence," Thanh was told to transfer 750 million VND to a "police account," which would be returned later. He was warned not to tell anyone, or he'd be immediately arrested.

When Thanh said he didn't have the money, the "investigators" coached him to fabricate the Canadian scholarship story. After receiving 400 million VND from his family, he transferred it to the "safe police account."

Next, the fake police, via Zoom, instructed Thanh to move constantly, filming himself in a car pretending to be kidnapped. They threatened to arrest him if he didn't send money to clear his name from the "bank fraud ring." Finally, they made him rent a hotel room, undress, pour water on himself, and feign torture for their video. They used his account to send the video to his family, demanding ransom.

Ho Chi Minh City Police and other provinces have recently rescued several victims of "online kidnapping," a new scam targeting students and young people with limited life experience. Criminal gangs often impersonate police, prosecutors, or courts, making threatening calls and demanding money for "investigation cooperation." Some victims are even told to isolate themselves, rent hotel rooms, or install unknown apps, further manipulating them psychologically.

Police confirm they never conduct investigations or demand money via phone calls. The public is advised not to share personal information, bank details, or OTP codes with anyone over the phone, and not to comply with requests for isolation, room rentals, or installing unfamiliar apps. If suspicious, stay calm, hang up, call 113, or report to the nearest police station.

Quoc Thang