The perpetrator who defrauded people by selling fake cartoon figurines has been apprehended.
Bui Tran Viet Anh is a fraudster who swindled money from many victims by posting advertisements selling cartoon character models and then using "bricks" to ship the goods to customers.
In early September 2025, the Tay Hieu Ward Police in Nghe An Province received reports from the public about a Facebook account named "Viet Anh" that showed suspicious activity.Cyber fraud.The Tay Hieu Ward Police reported to the leadership of the Office of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Nghe An Provincial Police, requesting that officers from Team 2 of the local area coordinate with the ward police to implement professional measures to verify the information on the internet.
The investigation quickly identified Bui Tran Viet Anh (born in 2007), residing in Lien Hoa commune, Phu Tho province, as the perpetrator of the online fraud. The suspect used a Facebook account named "Viet Anh" to sell model figures of popular anime characters such as Gundam, Dragon Ball, and One Piece.
To gain the victims' trust, for the first few orders, Viet Anh offered products at prices lower than the market rate. Once trust was established, Viet Anh introduced and offered limited-edition character figurines, which were considered high-value items, with a payment-before-delivery policy and no option to inspect the goods. More cunningly, the perpetrator offered various incentives such as discounts and free shipping for large orders. However, after receiving the goods, the victims discovered that they contained "bricks" (illegible bricks).
On September 14, 2025, the leadership of the Office of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Nghe An Provincial Police directed a task force, including the Tay Hieu Ward Police and the No. 2 Local Police Team, to conduct an emergency arrest and search of the residence of Bui Tran Viet Anh (born in 2007), residing in Lien Hoa commune, Phu Tho province, for the crime of fraud and appropriation of property. The seized items included 2 mobile phones, 5 boxes of goods, and several bricks (prepared for the fraudulent act).
Initial investigations have determined that, using the aforementioned methods, Bui Tran Viet Anh defrauded five victims in various locations across the country, totaling 35 million VND. Currently, the Office of the Provincial Police Investigation Agency and the Tay Hieu Ward Police are continuing to investigate and expand the case.
