Prosecution of case of getting to know Vietnamese women through Facebook, defrauding billions

A Nigerian fraudster and three Vietnamese accomplices have defrauded many Vietnamese women via Facebook and appropriated billions of dollars.

Micheal IkeChukwu Leonard and Huynh Ha Binh - Photo provided by authorities

On April 13, the Department of Investigation Police on Economic Management and Official Positions (PC46) of Quang Ninh province announced that it had initiated a case of a foreigner committing cross-country fraud.

According to investigation documents, in early 2016, many people reported to the Quang Ninh provincial police about a group of people using the internet to defraud and appropriate property worth billions of dong.

From the information received, the police investigation agency determined that this is a group of people operating inter-provincially, mainly in the southern and southwestern provinces. In addition, the subjects are in collusion with foreigners.

After studying the documents, a working group of the economic police force of Quang Ninh province urgently "went south", coordinating with the Professional Department and the Ho Chi Minh City Police, Can Tho, Dong Nai Province Police... to investigate, verify, and clearly understand the identity and background of the people involved.

Realizing that in Can Tho there was also a group of people who were committing fraud with similar tricks and were being targeted, the police of the two localities coordinated to consolidate documents and evidence related to the behavior of "using computer networks, telecommunications networks, and the Internet to defraud and appropriate property" of the above group of people.

After understanding the situation, the police outlined a plan of action, capturing the boss Michael IkeChukwu Leonard (44 years old, Nigerian nationality) and three Vietnamese accomplices: Huynh Ha Binh, Huynh Ha Uyen, and Nguyen Tran Quynh Nhi (all residing in Ho Chi Minh City).

According to the investigation agency, in Quang Ninh province alone, many victims in the localities of Hoanh Bo, Tien Yen, Ha Long, Cam Pha... were defrauded and had a total of more than 4 billion VND appropriated using the same method.

The method of this criminal group is through Facebook, Leonard talks and introduces himself to the "prey" as a successful man but his marriage life is unlucky such as divorce, wife death... wanting to get to know Vietnamese women with similar circumstances. After a while of talking, Leonard proposed and promised to get married.

To gain the victim's trust, the man promised to give the victim a souvenir, a valuable gift box, and a large sum of money to cover living expenses or travel to the country where Leonard was staying. The goods were sent by an international shipping company, and when they arrived in Vietnam, someone would contact them to deliver the goods.

Afterwards, the remaining members of the gang pretended to be employees of the delivery company or airport customs officers, using different phone numbers to contact the victim, informing them that the gift box had arrived at Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat airport.

However, because the authorities discovered a large amount of undeclared foreign currency inside, the package was temporarily detained and the victim was required to pay a fine to receive the gift box.

When the victim trusted and transferred money to the bank account as requested, the gang continued to use many different reasons and presented logical situations for the victim to pay more fees.

Michael IkeChukwu Leonard and his accomplices created 12 ATM cards of different commercial banks to commit the crime. The money transferred by the victims was withdrawn at ATMs abroad.

Currently, the case is being further investigated by the authorities.

Quang Ninh Provincial Police also recommends that when people discover signs of similar fraudulent behavior as above, they should urgently provide information to the Economic Police Department of Quang Ninh Provincial Police at the phone number0333.798.370.

According to TTO