Group of foreigners discovered using 'sensitive' photos for blackmail
On April 25, the Criminal Police Department, Ministry of Public Security, said that through monitoring the situation on the internet and public opinion, the Criminal Police Department discovered that a number of businessmen, officials, and civil servants received text messages from strange phone numbers with "sensitive" images and threatening content. If they did not transfer money as requested, these images would be spread on social networks in order to extort property.
Given the seriousness of the incident, the Criminal Police Department has proactively coordinated with professional departments, police of several localities: Ho Chi Minh City, Lao Cai, Thai Binh, Quang Ninh, Quang Binh... and related units to organize verification and report, advise the Ministry's leaders to direct the organization of verification and resolution.
After a short time, the Criminal Police Department determined that this was a group of Chinese people operating and committing crimes in Chinese territory, in the border area of Lao Cai and Quang Ninh provinces.
To commit the crime, the subjects initially entered Vietnam or contacted Vietnamese people who provided taxi services, exchanged money, sold phone SIM cards, etc. in the border area between Vietnam and China (Lao Cai International Border Gate area) to buy international roaming SIM cards. Then, the subjects returned to China (the area bordering Lao Cai City, Lao Cai Province and Mong Cai City, Quang Ninh Province) to combine images of some people and use the "Google Translate" application to send threatening messages to the victims. After sending the messages, the subjects used gmail addresses to contact, ask the victims to contact, exchange and request money transfers to the e-wallet provided by the subjects.
In addition, to launder money, Chinese subjects contacted and connected with Chinese subjects operating money laundering lines in Cambodia or took advantage of buying and selling cryptocurrency (USDT) in Vietnam to carry out "money laundering" acts.
Implementing the direction of the Deputy Minister, Head of the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security, the Criminal Police Department has presided over and coordinated with the Police of units and localities to simultaneously summon related Vietnamese subjects; at the same time. coordinated to provide information and request the Chinese side to summon and fight against related subjects.
Accordingly, in Vietnam, on February 10, the Criminal Police Department coordinated with the police of Quang Binh, Dak Lak, Can Tho, Hanoi, Nghe An, Dong Nai, and Khanh Hoa provinces to summon 7 related subjects.
On February 18, the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency initiated a case of "Extortion and money laundering" that occurred in the two provinces of Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and several other localities, involving foreign elements.
In China, the authorities have summoned 9 Chinese people to investigate; according to information from the Foreign Affairs Department of the Ministry of Public Security, the authorities have detained 7 people for investigation.
The Criminal Police Department also clarified the methods and tricks of the subjects using AI and Deepfake technology to cut and create "sensitive" images and videos of the victims, taking advantage of the overlapping area between Vietnam and China, using SIM cards of Vietnamese network operators to send messages to their phones, social network accounts or entering Vietnam to send letters to their residences and workplaces to threaten and extort property (and sending some accompanying images).
The message from the subjects reads: “Hello, I am a private detective entrusted by someone else to investigate you. Based on the relevant evidence provided by the entrusted person (client), I have secretly followed and investigated you for a long time and discovered that you have corrupt and depraved behavior above your position and have a bad style, lifestyle and other depraved behaviors. At the same time, I have recorded an indecent video clip of you, the content is ugly and now I will take a photo of your face for you to confirm.”
“Because of the pressure of life and my poverty, I have given these documents and video clips to you, I think you will not treat me badly, right? After receiving this letter, if you do not want to lose your honorable position and want to save money, eliminate disasters and solve problems safely within 3 days, immediately send me 80,000 USDT, my USDT receiving wallet address is TWJP4XAZaV1DZgdTzBrh8d7hZot7RfvGqr”.
“After receiving the USDT, I guarantee to give you all the photo evidence and keep it absolutely confidential. At the same time, I will quit my job and quietly leave here. If you refuse to hand over the above amount of money, I will have to transfer all the photos and video clips I have collected about you to major internet sites, post the photos around your residence and office, and at the same time, denounce your superiors and related agencies, so that you will be disgraced. Currently, it is not easy for you to have this position, because it is a position that you have worked hard for many years to achieve. Just because of something like this, you lose your position and honor, I find it unsatisfactory. If I do not have enough evidence about you in my hands, I will not dare to send you a letter. Remember to do what I said above as soon as possible. If you want this issue to be resolved quickly and safely, please contact the gmail address[email protected]”.
In addition, the subjects also used many gmail addresses and many e-wallet addresses and bank accounts to contact and receive money.
In order to carry out the cash flow circulation, Chinese subjects rented bank accounts of some Vietnamese people, organized for Vietnamese people to eat and stay in special zones and high-rise buildings in Cambodia to "launder money". The subjects mainly rotated rented and purchased accounts to mislead the investigation agency, then bought USDT on Binace, OKX... exchanges to complete the stage of property appropriation.
Through the above cases, the Criminal Police Department warns people to absolutely not rent or lend bank accounts; not register phone SIM cards for others to use. Service businesses need to keep information of buyers when selling phone SIM cards, including foreign customers. When conducting transactions using cryptocurrency, identity must be verified to ensure that criminals do not take advantage of it to launder money and commit other illegal acts.
People need to be careful when posting personal photos on social networks; always raise awareness of vigilance against calls from unknown identities, calls from strange numbers. When detecting signs of fraud or threats of property extortion in the above form, stay calm and quickly notify the nearest police agency or notify the hotline number of the Criminal Police Department: 0692.345.860.
