Authorities arrest fake "miracle healer" who scammed people by claiming to cure all diseases with alkaline ionized water.
Fake "miracle healer" Nguyen Tien Nam and his accomplices were arrested for staging a scam to cure all diseases using alkaline ionized water. The amount of money involved in the fraudulent activities of this group was determined to be nearly 100 billion VND.
Hanoi City Police announced the arrest of Nguyen Tien Nam (born in 1958, residing in Dia village, Binh Minh commune) along with 7 related individuals for investigation into the crime of fraud and appropriation of property.
According to investigators, the group led by Nam operated under the guise of advertising the cure of "all diseases" using alkaline ionized water. The suspects used social media to post numerous videos introducing Nam as a "miracle healer" capable of curing many serious illnesses, including those for which current medical science has no treatment.
When meeting patients, these individuals confidently assert that they can cure the disease, leading many to believe them and spend money on treatment or purchase alkaline ionized water purifiers.
During the search of Nam's residence and workplace, police seized several unmarked water purifiers.
At the police station, Nam confessed that he had not received any professional training and was not licensed to practice medicine.
Since 2018, Nam has claimed to be able to cure all kinds of diseases by drinking alkaline ionized water. Exploiting the anxiety of patients with serious illnesses, difficult circumstances, and lack of knowledge, he continuously advised them to come directly to his facility to drink the water or buy water filters to use at home.
For those who come for treatment in person, Nam charges 200,000 VND per day for alkaline ionized water, while family members accompanying them must pay 100,000 VND per day.
For those who cannot come to the facility, the group will advise them to buy alkaline ionized water purifiers priced from 3 to 40 million VND.
Despite knowing that alkaline ionized water cannot cure all diseases, Nam still spread false information to attract patients for personal gain, thereby defrauding them of their money.
Initially, the police determined that the total amount of money involved in the fraudulent activities of this group reached nearly 100 billion VND.
Based on the collected investigative documents, the police have placed Nam and seven other individuals under temporary criminal detention: Nguyen Tien Duc, Nguyen Tuyet Lan, Nguyen Thi Van, Nguyen Thi Nhan, Chu Tien Dung, Pham Van Duong, and Nguyen Van Tuan.
These individuals were identified as having played managerial, assistant, and support roles for Nam in the fraudulent operation.
The case is still under further investigation.
