The Phu Tho Provincial Police Investigation Agency recently prosecuted Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, 28, a resident of Ha Dong commune, Hai Phong city. She faces charges of "fraudulent appropriation of property" under Clause 4, Article 174 of the Penal Code.

Police reported that Tam knew a young man from Lien Minh commune, Phu Tho province, who worked illegally in Japan. Upon learning of his arrest by Japanese police and his inability to contact his family, Tam devised a plan to defraud his relatives.

Tam contacted the young man's sister via Facebook, informing her of the arrest. She then claimed to possess extensive connections in Japan, asserting her ability to "intervene in the legal case" and facilitate his release and return to Vietnam.

To bolster her credibility, Tam created multiple fake identities across Facebook, Zalo, and Gmail accounts. She used these personas to impersonate various individuals involved, exchanging information and convincing the family that she could genuinely intervene and resolve the situation in Japan.

Between 21/2/2025 and 1/4/2025, the family transferred a total of 836 million VND to Tam in several installments. Investigators reported that upon receiving the money, Tam never initiated any promised procedures or actions, instead using all the funds for her personal benefit.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam at the time of arrest. Photo: Police provided

Police urged the public to remain calm if a family member is arrested or encounters legal issues abroad. They recommend proactively contacting Vietnamese diplomatic missions or competent authorities in the host country to verify information. Authorities strongly caution against transferring money to individuals who claim to be able to "fix cases" or manage legal procedures without prior verification.