Female student kidnapped online and threatened with being taken to Cambodia for ransom.
The Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of the Da Nang Police (referred to as the Cyber Security Department) confirmed that they recently rescued a female student who was kidnapped online by a scammer demanding a ransom of 400 million VND.
It is known that at 5:30 PM on August 15th, the Security Department of the Da Nang Police received a request for assistance in verifying information regarding the kidnapping of TN (born in 2006, a first-year female university student currently residing in Ngu Hanh Son Ward, Da Nang City). The perpetrator contacted the victim's family, demanding a ransom of 400 million VND, threatening to take TN to Cambodia if the money was not paid. "Don't think that reporting this to the police will save your child. I've already told you, I have terminal AIDS..." the perpetrator continued to threaten.
Immediately after receiving the information, the Cyber Security Department mobilized forces to verify further details and determined that this was a case of "online kidnapping." Based on the verified information, the unit deployed 20 officers, divided into 4 task forces, to focus on locating the victim. At approximately 9:10 PM on the same day, the police force found TN at a guesthouse in Ngu Hanh Son ward, chatting via video with the scammer...
According to TN's account, she had previously received messages from people trying to get acquainted with her, luring her with suggestions like "scholarships," manipulating her psychology, and stealing sensitive personal information. Afterward, the perpetrator threatened her, forcing her to cut off contact with her family and telling her to hide in a secret location. Fearing the perpetrator would post her sensitive information on social media, on August 15th, TN rented a room at a house on My Da Dong 12 Street, Ngu Hanh Son Ward, and stayed there alone as requested by the scammer.
The perpetrator used deceptive tactics to gain access to TN's Zalo account and used it to contact TN's relatives, claiming to be kidnapping the female student. While TN was staying at the guesthouse, the perpetrator constantly made video calls to control her and prevent others from contacting her.
Earlier, on August 14th, the Criminal Police Department of Da Nang also successfully rescued an 18-year-old female student who had been "kidnapped online" after she was lured and tricked by the perpetrators into going to a guesthouse in Hoa Xuan ward, Da Nang city.
In this case, the scammer called, claiming the female student was being investigated by the police for involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering ring. Following the scammer's instructions, the student went to a guesthouse to stay and called her family to ask them to transfer money to prove her innocence and prevent her arrest. Subsequently, someone posing as a police officer called, demanding the family transfer 500 million VND for her release.
Following the incident, the family reported it to the Hoa Cuong Ward Police and the Criminal Investigation Department of the Da Nang City Police. The officers received the information and guided the family to cooperate with the police to quickly investigate, locate, and rescue the victim.
Following this incident, the police urge the public, especially students, to increase their vigilance and understand the behavior, methods, and tactics of criminals to avoid similar situations.
