Hanoi City Police announced on 3/3 that from August 2025 to present, a group of Chinese and Japanese individuals converged in Hanoi. They developed a scheme to impersonate Japanese police, prosecutors, and court officials.

According to the scheme, the suspects called citizens residing in Japan. They falsely claimed to have found the victim's documents and provided fabricated information that the victim's personal data was being used in criminal activities. The suspects then demanded cooperation for an investigation, forcing victims to transfer Ethereum (ETH) cryptocurrency.

Authorities estimate the group extorted approximately 11 billion VND.

Police apprehended suspects and seized numerous exhibits. *Photo: Police provided*

On the afternoon of 28/2, the Immigration Management Department simultaneously inspected four locations. These included the Ciputra urban area in Phu Thuong ward and an apartment at the Mipec 122-124 Xuan Thuy apartment building in Cau Giay ward. During the raids, police discovered three Chinese nationals and four Japanese nationals suspected of engaging in transnational online fraud. Suspect Z.H, a Chinese national, was identified as the mastermind of the operation.

At the scene, police seized 65 mobile phones, 19 tablets, three laptops, 12 walkie-talkies, and four Japanese police uniforms.

Seized exhibits. *Photo: Police provided*

Hanoi Police assessed that foreign-related legal violations are complex, organized, and transnational. The group of suspects exploited Vietnam's open electronic visa policy to legally enter the country, choosing Hanoi as their residence and hideout. Subsequently, the suspects colluded with individuals of other nationalities to organize fraud targeting foreign citizens, negatively impacting security, order, and the national image.

Fake Japanese police uniforms seized. *Photo: Police provided*