Lai Chau police arrest 12 individuals involved in online fraud.

NDO - For the first time, the Lai Chau Provincial Police, in coordination with Cambodian authorities, cracked a case and arrested 12 individuals involved in online fraud while they were operating in Cambodia.

According to the case file, on June 11, 2024, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong, born in 1974, residing in residential area 32, Tan Uyen town, Tan Uyen district, Lai Chau province, reported to the district police about being scammed.

Specifically, due to his need to buy a car, from June 3rd to 10th, 2024, he ordered a Ford Everest Titanium 2.0AT through customs liquidation at a price of 266.7 million VND from Vietnam Nam Mien Trung - Ninh Thuan Limited Liability Company via the company's website and Facebook page.

After four bank transfers, Mr. Phuong realized he had been scammed and lost 200,100,000 VND.

Upon receiving the information, the leaders of the Tan Uyen District Police Investigation Agency determined that this was a particularly serious case with foreign elements and cross-border activities. They reported to the Provincial Police Directorate to establish Special Case No. 924L, with the participation of the Tan Uyen District Police, the Criminal Police Department, and other functional departments of the Provincial Police, to concentrate maximum forces and professional methods to investigate, verify, and arrest the suspects.

Lai Chau police are transporting the suspects from Cambodia back to Lai Chau.

Through verification and tracing, the investigating agency has identified the person directly responsible for the fraudulent appropriation of property as Duong Van Thanh, born in 1986, residing in Tan My 1 hamlet, Tan Quang commune, Song Cong city, Thai Nguyen province, currently operating in Cambodia.

The Provincial Police Directorate issued a decision to initiate a criminal case for fraud and appropriation of property, and issued a special search warrant for Duong Van Thanh.

On September 12th, the task force arrested Duong Van Thanh while he was entering Vietnam from Cambodia.

During questioning at the investigative agency, Thạnh confessed that the fraud group, led by him, used the tactic of selling customs-liquidated cars at low prices, defrauding numerous Vietnamese victims of over 6 billion VND. Thạnh himself received a fee of 16,300 USD from the ringleader.

Representatives from the investigation team provided information about the case.

In the case of Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong, after stealing the money, the group of perpetrators transferred it to 86 accounts at 17 different banks to erase any trace of the funds.

Between September 17th and October 20th, 2024, the special task force continued to arrest five more individuals in Thanh's group.

Based on the statements of the six arrested individuals and other documents, the investigating agency has initiated criminal proceedings against these individuals.

Through extensive investigation, it has been determined that accomplices of the six aforementioned defendants are hiding in room 6-808, building 6, Venus 2 area, Ba Vet city, Svay Rieng province (Cambodia), and are suspected of continuing to exploit cyberspace for fraudulent purposes.

The Deputy Director of Lai Chau Provincial Police answered questions and provided information about the incident to the press.

The Lai Chau Provincial Police Department's leadership has reported to the competent authorities, proposing the establishment of a task force led by Colonel Pham Hai Dang, Deputy Director of the Lai Chau Provincial Police Department, with the participation of professional units from the Ministry of Public Security, to travel to the Kingdom of Cambodia to verify and apprehend the suspects in the case.

This is the first time the Lai Chau Provincial Police have sent a task force to apprehend criminals abroad.

Letters of commendation from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Lai Chau province were presented to the members of the special investigation team.

Through professional investigative measures, the task force and relevant authorities in Cambodia directly apprehended the group of suspects and successfully extradited 12 Vietnamese individuals involved in the operation out of the restricted area. On December 25, 2024, Cambodian authorities handed over the 12 suspects to the Lai Chau Provincial Police.

To date, 18 individuals have been arrested along with numerous pieces of evidence and documents of value that will aid in the investigation and prosecution of these individuals.

Initial investigations have identified the suspects who embezzled 3.95 billion VND from 52 out of 200 victims in 29 provinces and cities nationwide. The investigation is ongoing and being expanded.

Acknowledging the initial results of the investigation, on the morning of December 28th, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Lai Chau province sent a letter of commendation and awarded a special bonus to the investigation team.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/cong-an-lai-chau-bat-12-doi-tuong-lua-dao-qua-mang-post853048.html