On 6/1, Nguyen Dinh Van, 30, was temporarily detained by the Criminal Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police for investigation into property fraud. This arrest is part of a larger investigation into an online investment scam that defrauded a woman of a significant sum.

In connection with the case, Cao Ba Huy, 53, who facilitated Van's entry into Cambodia, was prosecuted by the Security Investigation Agency for organizing illegal emigration. Authorities identified Huy as the organizer and broker responsible for illegally transporting Van and others across the border to Cambodia. There, they worked for criminal organizations, with Huy receiving a commission for his role.

Nguyen Dinh Van at the time of arrest. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police*

According to the investigation, the scam began in August when Thanh, 48, residing in An Nhon Ward, posted an advertisement for a house for rent. She was subsequently approached by a man via social media. This individual strategically built trust by sharing personal details and claiming to be a "financial expert," fostering a close relationship with the victim.

In early September, the man introduced Thanh to a website, "starslatme.com," which he presented as an international gold and cryptocurrency trading platform. To gain her confidence, he initially allowed Thanh to use his personal account for simulated trades, showcasing high profits. Convinced by the fabricated returns, Thanh created her own account and began depositing money for investment.

Over one month, following instructions from the scam group and the website's "customer service" department, Thanh made multiple transfers totaling over 7.4 billion VND to various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. To keep the victim engaged, the scam group even returned a small profit, further solidifying her trust in the fraudulent scheme.

When Thanh's account displayed a balance exceeding 1.3 million USD, she attempted to withdraw funds. However, the system reported that her account was "frozen" due to "abnormal profits." The group then demanded an additional 10% verification fee to unlock the account. Recognizing these unusual demands as a clear sign of a scam, Thanh promptly reported the incident to An Nhon Ward Police.

During the subsequent investigation, the Criminal Police Department identified Nguyen Dinh Van as a direct participant in the money transfer and reception activities for this criminal syndicate. At the police station, Van confessed that Cao Ba Huy had organized his illegal border crossing to the Bavet area of Cambodia to work for a group of foreign individuals. In Cambodia, Van used bank accounts under his name to execute fraudulent transactions. Despite knowing the illegality of his actions, Van continued to participate for payment.

While working in Cambodia, Van and Huy also conspired to "lock" several accounts to misappropriate money before the foreign perpetrators could detect their actions. Upon returning to Vietnam, Van attempted to reopen these accounts to withdraw funds for personal use.

Ho Chi Minh City Police advise the public to exercise caution regarding financial and cryptocurrency investment invitations from unknown applications. They strongly recommend never transferring money to strangers met online and refraining from providing personal information or one-time password (OTP) codes to anyone.

Investigative agencies urge those currently participating in or aiding criminal syndicates abroad to immediately cease their activities, proactively return to Vietnam, and report to authorities to receive leniency. The public should remain vigilant against "easy job, high salary" advertisements and actively report crimes upon detecting suspicious signs. The Criminal Police Department continues to expand its investigation, tracing leading members of the syndicate operating abroad.

* The victim's name has been changed.