Arrested 2 suspects hired by Chinese to spread spam messages

The two suspects are Pham Duc An (born in 1992, residing in Hiep Duc district, Quang Nam province) and Do Quoc Chinh (born in 1990, residing in Hoa Vang district, Da Nang city).

Bắt 2 nghi phạm được người Trung Quốc thuê phát tán tin nhắn rác - 1 — Chinh and An were arrested (Photo: CACC).

Previously, on the evening of March 21, at Nguyen Hoang Street (An Son Ward, Tam Ky City), the Quang Nam Provincial Police working group coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications and the Quang Nam Provincial People's Procuracy to stop and check the car driven by An carrying Chinh.

At this time, the car had a laptop with the screen turned on and other devices, suspected to be fake BTS (mobile base transceiver station) devices. Checking the computer, the authorities discovered a software running that displayed the parameters of mobile networks at the location where the car was parked.

Through the struggle, both confessed that through knowing a man (Chinese nationality), since February 2023, Chinh received a computer and 2 fake BTS station devices of network operators from the Chinese man to spread advertising messages via SMS using a software.

This Chinese person also instructed Chinh on how to install and distribute the messages. The agreement was that for every 10,000 messages sent, this person would pay Chinh 500,000 VND via the USDT virtual currency wallet. After successfully installing and distributing the messages, Chinh instructed his younger brother, Do Quoc Bao, to do the same.

Chinh also instructed and hired Pham Duc An to do this, paying An 400,000 VND/10,000 messages distributed.

Bắt 2 nghi phạm được người Trung Quốc thuê phát tán tin nhắn rác - 2 — Computer and BTS fake equipment operating on cars (Photo: CACC).

Since using a fake BTS station to spread SMS messages, Chinh has been paid about 5,000 USDT by the Chinese man, equivalent to 110 million VND, of which Chinh has transferred 30 million VND to Bao and 30 million VND to An.

These people spread messages to mobile subscribers in Thua Thien Hue , Quang Nam provinces, and Da Nang city.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Son, Head of the Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention of the Provincial Police, said that recently, many spam messages and advertisements have been sent to people's mobile phones, causing inconvenience and affecting security and order in the area.

Realizing signs of illegal intrusion into other people's computer networks, telecommunications or electronic devices, Quang Nam Provincial Police have begun an investigation.

Through the investigation, it was found that the subject had very sophisticated and professional methods and tricks, modern technical equipment, and this was the first time the crime had occurred in the locality. The subject was highly vigilant, used a car to travel when committing the crime, and constantly changed locations to avoid being monitored by the authorities.

Currently, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of Quang Nam Provincial Police has initiated a case of Illegal intrusion into computer and telecommunications networks, and continues to coordinate with related professional units to expand the investigation.

Source