Authorities dismantled a network supplying SIM cards to a fraud ring.
On September 21st, the Hai Phong City Police announced that the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department, in coordination with the Criminal Police Department of Hai Phong City, had investigated and uncovered a transnational criminal organization that exploited cyberspace to commit fraud and property appropriation.
Based on the collected evidence, the Investigation Police Department of Hai Phong City Police has issued a decision to initiate a criminal case, indict the suspects, and execute an arrest warrant for two individuals for the crime of "Fraudulent appropriation of property." The suspects are: Tran Quoc Bao (born in 1997, residing on Dong Loi Street, Tran Lam Ward, Hung Yen Province) and Le Van Kien (born in 2003, residing in Tuong Linh Commune, Thanh Hoa Province; temporarily residing in Hoa Dinh, Vo Cuong District, Bac Ninh Province).
Previously, through intelligence gathering and public outreach, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of the Hai Phong City Police discovered several individuals residing in the city using Facebook and Telegram accounts to illegally buy and sell mobile phone subscriber information. These individuals then sold the information to Vietnamese individuals who used it to call people and commit fraud to steal their money.
Based on the verification results, in early August 2026, Major General Bui Quang Binh, Director of the Hai Phong City Police, directed the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department and the Criminal Police Department to coordinate with the Gia Loc Commune Police, Hai Phong City, to inspect the Ngan Tho SIM card and premium phone number shop at 37 Nguyen Hoi Street, Gia Loc Commune. During the inspection, the shop owner was identified as Nguyen Van Tho.
Applying professional investigative measures, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of the Hai Phong City Police identified Bao as the person who bought the phone SIM card from Tho.
Based on the information gathered, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of the Hai Phong City Police, in coordination with the Tran Lam Ward Police, Hung Yen Province, conducted an inspection at house number 41/4, Dong Loi Street, Tran Lam Ward. During the inspection, the task force discovered Bao using multiple GSM Box devices (devices containing 32 registered and activated SIM cards belonging to other people) connected to a computer, SIM management software, website, internet, and SIP/VoIP account. He then rented these devices to other individuals (fraudsters) to make direct phone calls to citizens to commit fraud and steal property.
While the suspect was in the act, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department, in coordination with the Criminal Police Department of Hai Phong City Police, detected and arrested him.
The evidence seized by the police included one used gray Samsung Galaxy S24 phone, one server, and eight similar electronic devices (GSM) belonging to Tran Quoc Bao; one used orange iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to Kien; and the SIM cards used by Bao and Kien.
During the investigation, the police determined that in late 2025, Bao went online to find ways to make money by providing mobile phone calling services from GSM devices (devices that use mobile SIM cards to make and receive calls over the mobile network at low cost). After learning about the operation and calculating the investment costs, in March 2026, Bao bought GSM Gateway devices and "burner" SIM cards (activated SIM cards with other people's subscriber information) to test the features and services in the GSM devices.
Bao and Kien conspired to commit the crime together. They agreed to share the money for purchasing equipment… After deducting other expenses, the proceeds would be divided equally 50-50. Kien's role was to find people who needed to rent the calling service, while Bao was responsible for managing the technical aspects and operations. After reaching an agreement, Bao advanced the money to purchase computers, hired someone to program a website to connect and control the GSM devices, and installed the internet network…
Around April 2026, Bao installed the equipment at address 41/04 Dong Loi Street, Tran Lam Ward, Hung Yen Province. He then hired someone to build a website, purchased used GSM equipment, and bought activated "burner" SIM cards on social media. Bao provided a service allowing customers to call any number at a price of 1,400 to 1,800 VND per minute (outgoing calls only, not incoming calls to the numbers connected to the GSM equipment). When someone agreed to use the service, they transferred money to Bao's or Kien's bank account. After receiving the money, Bao would create an account and provide a username and password. From this account, the service user would download the PortSIP UC application to their phone and log in using the information Bao provided.
Then, as long as the phone has an internet connection, users can make calls from anywhere. The phone number displayed to the recipient will be any number from the SIM cards Bảo inserted into the GSM device. Once the system is operational, Bảo gives Kiên an admin account to monitor and listen to recorded calls.
By mid-May 2026, a customer contacted them complaining of intermittent calls and asked them to check the call recordings. Bao and Kien checked and heard the content of the calls related to delivery personnel, order returns, impersonations of police officers, bank employees, electricity company employees, etc. Out of curiosity, Kien and Bao investigated and found out that the person who rented their system was using it to commit online fraud. However, due to the profit, Bao and Kien continued the operation.
The investigating agency has verified that on August 6th, the scammer hired Bao and Kien to make phone calls to Ms. LTQ (born in 1950, residing in Hung Yen province) impersonating a police officer. The scammer claimed that Ms. Q. was involved in a particularly serious drug trafficking and money laundering case, and demanded that she transfer 60 million VND to a bank account provided by the scammer for fraudulent purposes.
Based on the investigation documents, the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Hai Phong City Police Department has issued a decision to initiate a criminal case, indict and temporarily detain Tran Quoc Bao and Le Van Kien for the crime of "Fraudulent appropriation of property". The case is currently being further investigated and processed by the police according to regulations.
