Nghe An strengthens prevention and handling of fraudulent property appropriation activities

Synchronously deploy multiple solutions

As the core force, in recent times, Nghe An Police have synchronously deployed professional measures to combat crimes of fraud and property appropriation.

Many fraudsters and fraud rings have been eliminated, including transnational fraud rings.

Typically, in October 2024, Nghe An Police presided over and coordinated with relevant units and localities to eradicate a transnational property fraud ring in the "Golden Triangle" economic zone in Bokeo province (Laos) masterminded by foreigners, with the participation of Nghe An people in the form of love fraud and enticing investment in virtual currency.

Previously, the authorities investigated and clarified that in September 2023, Vi Van Linh (born in 2003), residing in Con Cuong district, went to Laos and joined the above criminal group to commit fraud and appropriate property. Specifically, Linh used the Zalo account "Phuong Quynh" and the Facebook account "Pham Quynh Chau" to text, get acquainted and create a romantic relationship with a man residing in Bao Loc city, Lam Dong province.

Using the trick of deceiving people and enticing them to invest in virtual currency, Linh repeatedly lured victims to invest in "Biconomynft" and then defrauded them of a total of more than 17.6 billion VND.

Using the same "trick", Kha Van Uc (born 2002), also residing in Con Cuong district, continued to defraud and appropriate more than 1 billion VND from the above-mentioned man.

The Investigation Police Agency has initiated a criminal case and prosecuted Kha Van Uc and Vi Van Linh for the crime of “Fraudulent appropriation of property”. Expanding the case, the authorities arrested, prosecuted, and detained three more suspects: Loc Van Tao (born 2001), Luong Van Hien (born 2001), both residing in Tuong Duong district, and Vi Thi Le (born 2002), residing in Con Cuong district.

Along with that, the work of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of State management in preventing and combating crimes of property fraud and appropriation has been vigorously implemented with the participation of all levels and sectors.

Typically, the Department of Planning and Investment, the Provincial Police, the State Bank of the province and related units have coordinated to strengthen solutions to rectify and tighten management, business registration, people's credit funds and business households of all types of service businesses... to prevent fraudulent activities and property appropriation.

Propaganda work on methods and tricks of property fraud criminals is also carried out in many forms so that people know and raise their vigilance.

In addition, the functional sectors have coordinated to build and strengthen mass organizations participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level. Up to now, the whole province has built and maintained the operation of 3,895 Self-management Committees and 38,578 Self-management Teams on Security and Order; placed 3,950 crime denunciation mailboxes at cultural houses of blocks, hamlets and public places; and publicized 460/460 phone numbers of ward, commune and town police for the masses to provide information related to crimes. Thereby, the people have provided more than 112 pieces of information, serving to solve and combat crimes of fraud and appropriation of property, including many valuable sources of information serving investigation and verification activities...

High risk

Besides the achieved results, the current situation of property fraud crimes is potentially complicated.

Taking advantage of the greed and lack of vigilance of a segment of the population (mainly the elderly, women, freelancers, people with unstable incomes, students, etc.), criminals have thoroughly exploited cyberspace to carry out fraudulent activities.

Common tricks include: Using Deepfake technology to fake video calls to appropriate property; appropriating the right to use phone SIM cards to commit fraud, organizing the recruitment of online collaborators to sell products on e-commerce platforms; impersonating law enforcement agencies, impersonating provincial leaders, local departments, businesses, financial institutions, banks, teachers, medical staff; inviting participation in online dating services; calling for financial investment, virtual currency; using fake seals, documents, and records related to land to call for real estate investment; pretending to be in love, sending/receiving gifts from abroad; stealing social network accounts to text to borrow money, exchange foreign currency; buying online at cheap prices; pretending to transfer money by mistake and then forcing to pay back at high interest rates; borrowing money online, faking bank notifications, winning notifications; creating fanpages with the same name or similar to many reputable fanpages to commit fraud...

Recently, there have been many cases of people being scammed by people pretending to be shippers, transferring money to receive goods, or posing as police officers, instructing them to set up level 2 electronic identification accounts to appropriate property.

Typically, on October 11, 2024, Mr. TQC, residing in Dien Hung commune (Dien Chau), lost 55 million VND in his account after following the instructions to set up a level 2 electronic identification account and providing information such as: identification code, date of birth, bank account number, OTP code... to a stranger who claimed to be a police officer over the phone.

Fortunately, after discovering that his account had “disappeared”, Mr. C. reported it and was instructed by the Dien Hung Commune Police to carry out verification steps and coordinate with the bank to stop the transaction. By the afternoon of the same day, Mr. C. had received the aforementioned 55 million VND back.

According to the functional sector, the methods and tricks of property fraud criminals are increasingly sophisticated, diverse, and unpredictable. In addition, state management in a number of areas such as finance, banking, telecommunications, information technology, land, notary... still has many loopholes and shortcomings for criminals to take advantage of, causing difficulties for functional forces in prevention and combat.

Strengthening prevention and control solutions

Faced with the complicated developments of this type of crime, on October 31, 2024, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Document No. 9621/UBND-NC dated October 31, 2024 on strengthening solutions to prevent, stop, and handle "fraudulent appropriation of property" activities.

In which, it requires heads of relevant departments, branches, and sectors, Chairmen of People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns to coordinate in propagating and disseminating legal regulations and methods and tricks of criminal activities.“Fraudulent appropriation of property", especially fraud in cyberspace to raise awareness and vigilance of people, organizations and businesses.

The Provincial People's Committee also requested the Provincial Police to strengthen the management of subjects with criminal records, drug addiction, juvenile delinquents... to limit the participation or assistance of these subjects in fraud (opening bank accounts to collect and resell to fraudsters to appropriate assets, or going abroad to operate in criminal fraud rings in special zones in Cambodia, Laos...).

At the same time, improve the effectiveness of state management of business lines with conditions on security and order, business establishments with signs and conditions of "fraudulent appropriation of property"; prevent and strictly handle activities of illegally collecting, using, disseminating, and trading personal information of others.

The Provincial People's Committee requested the Department of Information and Communications to strengthen state management in the field of telecommunications and information security, promptly detect, prevent, and delete articles, content, images... of illegal advertisements, websites, links, and applications related to "Fraudulent appropriation of property" activities.

On the part of the State Bank of Vietnam, Nghe An Province Branch, it is necessary to proactively research and direct the commercial banking system and payment intermediary organizations in the area to effectively coordinate with the Provincial Police and relevant departments and branches in verifying and handling crimes; promptly take measures to block and prevent the dispersion of assets in cases and incidents; overcome loopholes and shortcomings in lending, payment, money transfer and receiving activities; strengthen control of transactions related to "virtual" money contrary to the provisions of law.

However, in addition to the involvement of the authorities, people also need to proactively update information; raise vigilance, avoid becoming "prey" to be lured by scammers, manipulated psychologically, causing both material and mental damage./.