The incident unfolded on the afternoon of 29/8 when An Bien ward police received a report from a gold shop on Hang Kenh street. A 17-year-old named Duc had attempted to sell nearly 300 grams of gold, exhibiting signs of anxiety and unusual behavior.

The shop owner stalled Duc until the police arrived. An Bien ward police contacted Duc's family to coordinate handling the situation, ensuring the safety of both the assets and Duc's well-being.

Duc explained he sold the gold to "deposit into an investigator's account to prove his innocence in a drug trafficking ring."

The teenager broke his family's safe and sold the gold as instructed by the scammers. Photo: Police Department

The teenager broke his family's safe and sold the gold as instructed by the scammers. Photo: Police Department

Duc recounted receiving a call on the morning of 28/8 from someone claiming to be a Ho Chi Minh City police officer. The caller accused Duc of being involved in an international drug trafficking and money laundering operation. The scammer then initiated a video call, showing himself in a police uniform alongside a handcuffed "delivery driver" in a room resembling a police station. Believing the charade, Duc insisted he had no involvement in any criminal activity.

The fake officer demanded Duc have his parents transfer 800 million VND to the "investigators" to "prove the legitimacy of their funds," promising a refund if Duc was cleared. Failure to comply, the scammer threatened, would result in immediate arrest.

Duc admitted to having only 800,000 VND, which the scammers instructed him to send as a down payment. He then informed his parents, who recognized the situation as a scam.

However, when the scammers called back on the morning of 29/8, Duc was again manipulated. They instructed him to record a video of his entire house, focusing on areas where valuables were kept, supposedly to "demonstrate his family's financial stability, proving he wouldn't engage in illegal activities." Upon seeing a safe, the scammers coerced Duc into buying a hammer and crowbar to break it open.

While Duc's parents were away, the scammers guided him to use blankets and pillows to muffle the noise, then break open the safe. He took nearly 300 grams of gold and other valuables to sell.

According to An Bien ward police, two other male students were targeted with similar scams around the same time. Fortunately, their families intervened before they could steal any valuables.

Le Tan

*The victim's name has been changed.