Hơn 20 tuổi nhưng có 6 năm kinh nghiệm điều hành đường dây lừa đảo tại Campuchia | VTV24

Key Concepts

• Cross-border cyber fraud network: An organized criminal group operating across national borders to defraud individuals online.
• Virtual currency trading scam: A fraudulent scheme involving the manipulation of virtual currency markets to steal money from victims.
• Social media advertising: Using platforms like Facebook or other social media to promote fraudulent investment opportunities.
• Fake investment platforms: Creating fictitious online trading platforms to deceive investors.
• "Catching clients," "nurturing clients," "client invests," "killing clients" (four-step scam process): A structured methodology used by fraudsters to build trust, extract money, and ultimately steal from victims.
• Telegram "decoys": Using fake profiles or accounts on Telegram to lure victims into larger investments.
• Asset appropriation: The act of illegally taking possession of someone else's property or money.
• Cybercrime investigation: The process of gathering evidence and prosecuting individuals involved in online criminal activities.

Summary of Cyber Fraud Network Bust in Thanh Hóa Province

This summary details the recent bust of a transnational cyber fraud network by the Thanh Hóa Provincial Police, apprehending 29 individuals. The network operated from Cambodia, specifically renting 12 rooms in Serei Sa'a'phoa province, to execute their elaborate scams.

Modus Operandi and Operational Structure

The fraudsters utilized social media advertising to reach potential victims, luring them into investing in virtual currency through a fabricated online trading platform named JPX. A key tactic involved creating the illusion of a large, active community. As one apprehended individual explained, they would use multiple social media accounts to simulate conversations and responses, making it appear as though many real people were involved. This was to convince victims that the group was legitimate and that many others were profiting. In reality, a single person often managed multiple accounts to orchestrate these interactions.

The Four-Step Scam Process

A 20-year-old individual with six years of experience in running similar scams in Cambodia outlined a four-step process:

1. "Catching clients" (Bắt khách): Employees used pre-written scripts to approach and persuade potential victims to join the investment platform.
2. "Nurturing clients" (Nuôi khách): Victims were initially allowed to make small profits and withdraw modest sums to build trust and confidence in the platform.
3. "Client invests" (Khách vào tiền): Once trust was established, the fraudsters used "decoys" on Telegram to encourage victims to invest larger amounts in high-value packages.
4. "Killing clients" (Giết khách): When victims committed significant funds, the scammers would invent various excuses to seize the entire investment.

The perpetrators would impersonate international investment platforms to attract victims, starting with small amounts and escalating to larger sums. Once substantial investments were made, they would proceed to appropriate the funds.

Financial Scale of the Operation

The financial losses incurred by victims were substantial. The network was capable of defrauding victims of tens of millions, hundreds of millions, and even billions of Vietnamese Dong daily, depending on the day.

Between June 23, 2025, and May 18, 2025, the suspects allegedly defrauded victims of approximately 200 billion VND through 20 bank accounts. The Thanh Hóa Provincial Police are currently investigating and believe the total amount of money involved in the entire operation could reach thousands of billions of VND, with victims nationwide.

Investigation and Prosecution

The sophisticated nature of the scams required highly experienced and skilled investigators with advanced technological expertise to uncover the criminal activities and gather evidence.

As of the current investigation, the Thanh Hóa Provincial Police have identified the criminal actions of 29 individuals. Of these, 21 have been indicted for the crime of appropriating assets using computers, telecommunication networks, and electronic means.

Conclusion

The Thanh Hóa Provincial Police have successfully dismantled a significant transnational cyber fraud network that preyed on individuals through sophisticated virtual currency scams. The operation highlights the evolving tactics of cybercriminals and the critical need for advanced investigative capabilities to combat such sophisticated criminal enterprises. The scale of the financial losses and the number of victims underscore the pervasive threat of online fraud.