Foreign man 'love trap' scammed 20 billion

Through social networks, the 44-year-old man got to know single women in Vietnam. He introduced himself as living abroad quite successfully, but his marriage had broken down and he was lonely.

On the evening of April 5, Can Tho City Police said that this unit had just coordinated with the Criminal Police Department (C45, Ministry of Public Security), the High-Tech Crime Prevention Police Department (C50) to destroy a transnational criminal gang that had defrauded hundreds of women of about 20 billion VND.

Four people were arrested for investigation. They include: Micheal IkeChukwu Leonard (44 years old, Nigerian nationality); Huynh Ha Binh (26 years old); Huynh Ha Uyen (24 years old) and Nguyen Tran Quynh Nhi (25 years old, all living in Ho Chi Minh City).

According to the investigation agency, this is a transnational criminal gang using high-tech tricks led by foreigners. They have defrauded victims in provinces and cities such as: Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Quang Ninh, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Dien Bien, Da Nang... In Can Tho, this gang caused 7 cases, appropriating about 2 billion VND.

Suspects Micheal IkeChukwu Leonard and Huynh Ha Binh. Photo: Provided by the police.

At the end of March, when Michael IkeChukwu Leonard was discovered entering Vietnam, the task force planned to take him down. When he and Binh were traveling in a taxi in District 1, the detectives arrested him. Two other task forces arrested Nhi at an apartment building in Binh Chanh and Uyen in District 4 (HCMC).

Searching their residence, the force seized many exhibits related to criminal activities such as: laptops, phones, 20 ATM cards from many banks, gold, foreign currency and cash.

According to the investigation agency, through social networks, the 44-year-old man got acquainted with single women in Vietnam. He introduced himself as living abroad quite successfully, but due to a broken marriage, he was very lonely.

After several conversations, Michael IkeChukwu Leonard flirted with her, promising to give her valuable gifts and get married. These gifts were to be sent through an international shipping company, but when they arrived in Vietnam, they were "stuck" due to the discovery of a large amount of undeclared foreign currency.

Using many tricks, Micheal IkeChukwu Leonard and his accomplices tricked the victims into transferring money into accounts provided by them many times, then withdrew all the money using ATM cards in Cambodia.

The investigation agency is expanding the case and arresting the remaining suspects.

According to Zing.vn