Scamming nearly 1.7 billion VND using a foreign currency exchange scheme via social media.
On September 5th, according to information from the Criminal Police Department of Hai Phong City Police, the unit successfully apprehended Bui Thanh Long (born in 1992, residing in Bao Thang commune, Lao Cai province) for investigation into fraudulent activities.
Previously, the Criminal Investigation Department received a report from Ms. Tran Thi Thu L. (residing in Le Chan ward, Hai Phong city) regarding a scam in which she was defrauded of nearly 1.7 billion VND through an online currency exchange transaction on social media.
According to Ms. L.'s statement, she met a user named "Kimjongun" on the Telegram social network. This person introduced himself as Long, a professional currency exchanger who traded Vietnamese Dong for foreign currencies.
Because she needed to pay tuition fees for her younger sister who is currently studying abroad, Ms. L. asked Long to exchange 66,000 USD for her. However, after Ms. L. transferred 1.683 billion VND to Long's bank account, she never received the USD as promised and was unable to contact Long.
After receiving the report, the Criminal Investigation Department deployed operational measures, identified the Telegram account named "Kimjongun" as belonging to Bui Thanh Long, and successfully apprehended Long while he was hiding in Lao Cai province.
According to the head of the Criminal Investigation Department, recently in Hai Phong City, many similar schemes have appeared, with perpetrators exploiting people's need to exchange foreign currency to commit fraud and steal property online.
The Criminal Investigation Department also issued a warning, urging citizens to immediately report any individuals or networks exhibiting similar fraudulent activities to the local police or contact the Criminal Investigation Department of Hai Phong City Police directly at 069.2785874 for assistance.
