Many scams target single women.

Simply typing the phrase "single women looking to date" on Facebook brings up hundreds of community groups, some with up to 500,000 members, bustling with 30-40 posts daily advertising "finding a partner" or "making friends from all over." But behind those introductions lie sophisticated traps where emotions are exploited, trust is stolen, and money "vanishes" with just a few clicks.

Dating turns into a "debt agreement".

In the group "Single and Divorced Women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s Looking for a Partner," TN recounted how she once posted a message seeking someone to chat with. Six men contacted her, and all six shared a common pattern: after only a few days of acquaintance, they asked to borrow money. Sometimes it was because "the car ran out of gas," other times "I need money for food," or "it's too cold, I don't have a jacket." These small loans were repeated over and over, like a test of trust.

Some similar groups have dozens of posts every day, profile pictures of handsome men in smart suits, and sweet, sugary messages like: "I've been lonely for a long time," "I just hope to find someone to spend the rest of my life with." However, when you click on them, most are fake accounts, with images taken from various personal pages, sometimes a mix of different faces.

The perpetrators used various tactics, creating fake romantic relationships with victims in order to defraud them and steal their property.

In September 2025, TL shared a story on social media that seemed straight out of a movie. She met someone who called himself NMH, a "software engineer in Ho Chi Minh City." Initially, they talked daily, sharing everything from work to hobbies and family matters. Once she gained his trust, H. claimed he had to go on an urgent business trip abroad due to a software issue with a partner company, then boasted about discovering a "casino software vulnerability" and guaranteed a 100% win. TL deposited money as instructed, ranging from a few hundred thousand to tens of millions of dong, and consistently "profited." However, on the third attempt, when she transferred 570 million dong, the system reported an error, requiring her to deposit double the amount before she could withdraw. Afterward, the man disappeared, her account was blocked, and her money was lost.

Another victim recounted a similar scam. The man, named NGT, claimed to be the "owner of a car garage in Saigon," a widower raising young children. He spoke softly and subtly, always using the excuse of being busy to avoid video calls.

After a few weeks, T. introduced her sister, who worked for a foreign bank, and claimed to have a "secret investment method guaranteeing a 10% return." The victim deposited 500,000 VND, then 40 million, and 50 million VND, all of which received interest. On the fourth attempt, when the victim hesitated, T. continuously pressured her, citing reasons like "her sister is in charge of the VIP room," "a double opportunity," and "she's helping me retrieve data." The victim softened and transferred another 45 million VND, after which her account was blocked.

Psychologist Le Thi Lan Phuong observes that victims of online romance scams are often single women with stable jobs and finances, but who live introverted lives.

This expert advises that women need to maintain clear emotional boundaries in online relationships: be wary of attention that comes too quickly or too perfectly; verify information independently; and avoid sharing personal, financial, or private data and images.

More importantly, cultivate a healthy mental life outside the online world – a place where family, friends, and social activities can help balance emotions and increase risk awareness.

Cross-border fraud network

On July 26th, the Investigation Police Department of Phu Tho province initiated a criminal case, indicted and detained seven suspects in a fraud ring operating from Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

Through investigation, the police determined that this group consisted of approximately 25-30 Vietnamese individuals who specialized in using dating apps such as "Love 2.1" and "Connecting with Love" to approach single women in Vietnam.

Earlier this year, the Ha Tinh Provincial Police also prosecuted 50 defendants for "Fraudulent appropriation of property" related to Bitcoin cryptocurrency investment schemes on the UNISAT application and "TikTok mission" scams. This was a transnational fraud ring, tightly organized, causing exceptionally serious damage.

The perpetrators used fake Facebook accounts, portraying themselves as successful businessmen, to approach middle-aged, single women in Vietnam. They employed a "7-day trust-building" scheme, then boasted about "secrets to getting rich," enticing them to invest in Bitcoin with promises of "working towards a better future together," playing on both the victims' emotional needs and their desire for a better life to commit fraud.

The police advise people to absolutely not provide personal information, bank account details, or OTP codes to acquaintances online; be wary of messages from people trying to get acquainted, asking to receive/transfer money from abroad, asking to buy phone cards, or transfer money to "verify an account".

People should promptly report any unusual activity to the bank. Additionally, banks and tellers should pay attention to large money transfers to strangers, temporarily halting them and cooperating with the police for verification, thus contributing to the prevention of high-tech crime.

According to lawyer Nguyen Van Canh of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, the act of exploiting trust to seize property online can be prosecuted under Article 290 of the Penal Code on "Crime of using computer networks, telecommunication networks, and electronic means to commit acts of property appropriation," with a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

In addition, the perpetrator must also compensate the victim for civil damages. If the victim discovers they have been scammed, lawyers advise them to stop the transaction, block all communication, and immediately notify the bank to request account freezing, while also promptly reporting the incident to the police.

CAM NUONG - VAN ANH - THU HOAI

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nhieu-chieu-lua-nham-vao-phu-nu-doc-than-post826990.html