Police in Ha Tinh province have dismantled a major transnational scam network that defrauded thousands of Vietnamese victims through fake Bitcoin investments and fraudulent tasks on TikTok, stealing hundreds of billions of VND.

On February 13, the Ha Tinh Provincial Criminal Police Division, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security’s Criminal Investigation Agency (CSHS), Vietnam’s Police Office in Cambodia (AC5), and law enforcement authorities in the Philippines and Cambodia, arrested 56 suspects linked to the fraud syndicate.

As a result, 50 individuals have been formally charged with "fraudulent appropriation of property", including schemes involving cryptocurrency scams and TikTok-based task fraud.

Sophisticated scam operation spanning multiple countries

Among the ringleaders, Nguyen The Anh (born 1996, from Yen Bai province) was identified as a key figure in the Philippines-based fraud operation since April 2023.

Acting under the command of a Chinese mastermind, The Anh managed more than 80 Vietnamese fraudsters, overseeing recruitment, training, and operations. He was responsible for:

Providing scammers with fake social media accounts, mobile devices, and scripts

Training new recruits using detailed scam playbooks

Monitoring work schedules and performance metrics

Handling financial transactions and ensuring maximum profit for the syndicate

Another critical figure, Nguyen Van Dong (born 2000, Bac Giang province), specialized in managing hundreds of fake Facebook accounts. These accounts were used to pose as successful entrepreneurs, posting fabricated images of luxurious lifestyles to lure victims.

How the scam worked

Fake Facebook profiles were used to befriend victims, gradually gaining their trust.

Victims were persuaded to download an app called "UNISAT" and invest in Bitcoin with a minimum deposit of VND 8 million (approximately USD 320), with promises of quick and high returns.

Initially, victims were allowed to withdraw their funds, reinforcing trust and credibility.

Once victims invested larger sums, scammers fabricated system errors, tax requirements, and insurance fees to demand additional payments.

Eventually, scammers blocked victims' accounts and disappeared, stealing the entire sum.

The syndicate operated in highly organized units, including:

Fake social media managers who created deceptive profiles

"Nurturing teams" responsible for developing relationships with victims

Transaction control units deciding whether to allow withdrawals or execute full scams

International manhunt and massive crackdown

By late 2024, after Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security coordinated with Philippine police, authorities raided and dismantled the fraud ring. However, the scammers relocated to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to evade capture.

A major operation was launched by Ha Tinh police, working closely with international law enforcement. In a surprise raid on their Phnom Penh hideout, police arrested 30 suspects.

Simultaneously, Vietnamese law enforcement units stationed at Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai International Airports intercepted and arrested 26 additional suspects returning from the Philippines en route to Cambodia.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities working to identify further accomplices and financial trails.

Thien Luong