Vietnamese authorities, in collaboration with Lao police, arrested 40 individuals in Bokeo province, Laos, for an online scam targeting parents via VNeID and QR codes. Legal procedures are being completed for their repatriation, Lai Chau Provincial Police announced on 23/7.

Ha Van Hieu, 23, from Yen Son commune, Tuyen Quang province, is suspected of being the ringleader. Most individuals under Hieu were Vietnamese, operating from Tonpheung commune, Bokeo province, Laos. Among the arrested, many have criminal records, one is a wanted fugitive, and 16 tested positive for drugs.

Authorities determined that since April, the group exploited policies on tuition fee exemptions and health insurance support for elementary, junior high, and high school students to devise their scam. Their direct targets were parents and students.

Police arrested 40 Vietnamese suspects in Laos. *Photo: Courtesy of Police*

To execute their plan, the group rented a house in Tonpheung commune, installing computer systems and telecommunication equipment to conduct online scams disguised as insurance agents. Every day, they used virtual call centers to contact students and parents based on pre-existing data.

Initially, police determined that from 6/2026 to the present, the group had defrauded over 1.000 victims across various provinces and cities nationwide, embezzling more than 5 billion dong.

The VNeID and QR code scam playbook

According to the police, this syndicate executed its scam using a detailed three-step script. First, the front-line team called parents, informing them to bring their child's citizen identification card to the commune or ward People's Committee to update their level 2 electronic identification account on the VNeID application. They stated that after the update was complete, an "insurance agent" would contact them to provide a confirmation code.

Next, they used Zalo to befriend parents, instructing them on phone operations. Victims were asked to use another device to make a video call, pointing the camera at the phone screen displaying the VNeID application, the "Social Security" section, and the banking application.

Observing via video remotely, they monitored the balance in the victim's bank account to create a QR code with a corresponding amount. Then, they sent the QR code, asking the victim to scan it using their banking application, citing "linking health insurance with a bank account", and to enter an OTP code for confirmation.

The suspects under arrest. *Photo: Courtesy of Police*

Finally, they instructed victims to cover the phone camera with their citizen identification card, claiming it was for "data synchronization". This was a trick to prevent victims from seeing the transfer transaction details displayed on the screen. When the "prey" clicked confirm, the money in the account was transferred to an account controlled by the scam group.

Under the continuous direction of Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister and Head of the Investigative Police Agency, Ministry of Public Security, Lai Chau Provincial Police led the establishment of a special task force. On 19/7 and 20/7, Vietnamese police forces, in coordination with Lao police, simultaneously raided the criminal operation site.

Police taking initial statements from the suspects. *Photo: Courtesy of Police*

At the house in Tonpheung commune, Bokeo province, police arrested 40 Vietnamese individuals, seizing 56 mobile phones, 49 computers, and other related items and documents.

Following this case, police advise the public not to follow instructions to update VNeID, link health insurance, or bank accounts via phone or Zalo. Crucially, people should not scan QR codes, provide OTP codes, share screens, or allow strangers to monitor operations on banking applications to avoid being scammed.