Warning about foreign currency exchange scams via social networks

Hai Phong City Police informed that recently, in Hai Phong City, there have been people taking advantage of people's need to exchange foreign currency to commit fraud and appropriation of property on the internet. At the same time, they are advised not to transact with strangers online to avoid losing money.

Subject Bui Thanh Long. (Photo: Hai Phong Police)

People who use social networks (Facebook, Zalo, Telegram...) to post news and advertise large amounts of foreign currency, higher exchange rates than banks or special offers.

After people have a need, the subject will request to transfer Vietnamese Dong (VND) to a personal account or e-wallet; after receiving the money, the subject often sends the victim a fake money transfer bill showing that the transaction has been made, then immediately cuts off contact, blocks all contact methods and appropriates that amount of money.

For example, the Criminal Police Department of Hai Phong City Police received a report from Ms. TTTL in Le Chan Ward about being scammed by a person using the social network Telegram to appropriate property through money exchange transactions. Accordingly, around December 2024, through the social network Telegram, Ms. TTTL became acquainted with a Telegram account user named "Kimjongun".

This person introduced himself as Long, working in the field of exchanging VND to USD; because she needed to pay tuition for her sister studying abroad, Ms. TTTL asked Long to exchange 66 thousand USD, equivalent to 1.683 billion VND. After Ms. TTTL transferred the money to Long, she did not receive the USD and could not contact Long, so she filed a report with the police.

Upon receiving the report, using professional measures, the Criminal Police Department of Hai Phong City Police identified the Telegram account named "Kimjongun" and successfully arrested Bui Thanh Long, born in 1992, residing in Residential Group No. 2, Bao Thang Commune, Lao Cai Province for fraud.

To prevent and stop the above scams, the Criminal Police Department of Hai Phong City Police recommends that people: Absolutely do not exchange money via social networks, do not transact with strangers and only exchange foreign currency at banks, credit institutions, and legal foreign currency exchange points permitted by the State Bank of Vietnam .

When detecting a subject or line showing signs of fraud, immediately report to the police agency of the commune or ward where you reside or directly contact the Criminal Police Department of Hai Phong City Police, phone number 069.2785874 for timely support and resolution.

XUAN TRUONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/canh-bao-lua-dao-doi-ngoai-te-qua-mang-xa-hoi-post906198.html