Beware of "magic pens"

After completing all the procedures for signing and receiving the money, Mr. L. was shocked to discover that the borrower's signature was missing from the documents when the repayment deadline arrived. By the time Mr. L. realized that his "partner" had used a disappearing ink pen, it was too late.

"Magically" disappears handwriting in 24 hours.



"The magic pen" makes writing disappear after 6-24 hours.

Recently, a type of disappearing ink pen, also known as a "magic pen," has been infiltrating the business world, causing confusion for many when conducting transactions and signing agreements. With an appearance indistinguishable from a regular ballpoint pen but capable of writing on any material, the "magic pen" is becoming a "weapon" for many unscrupulous business people or those plotting fraud.

Mr. NQL (owner of a building materials store in Binh Tan District) said that in early February 2013, a regular customer who frequently bought materials from his store came to borrow money. Thinking this was a loyal customer and with a signed receipt, Mr. L. confidently lent the person nearly 1 billion VND. When the repayment deadline arrived, Mr. L. opened the cabinet to retrieve the loan agreement and was shocked to find that the borrower's signature was missing. When he tried to confront the borrower, the "debtor" denied everything. After this incident, Mr. L. ended his relationship with this regular customer.



Disappearing ink pens, also known as "magic pens," are being sold online.

To trace the origin and authenticity of this "magic pen," we visited several online shopping websites. It wasn't difficult to find online sellers of these "magic pens" with openly advertised claims such as: "The 'magic pen' is a pen that can erase everything written without leaving a trace. After 6-24 hours, the ink on the material will automatically fade, returning to its original state as if you hadn't written anything..."

Visiting an advertisement selling "magic pens" on Quang Trung Street (Ward 8, Go Vap District), we were told by Quang (a supplier of these pens in Ho Chi Minh City) that these disappearing ink pens are sold for 300,000 VND each. "This price is the best we can offer, sir. I just got 100 pens and they're all sold out in just a few days. The great thing about this pen is that it's like a normal ink pen; you just write anything on paper, skin, walls, or any other surface… and within 6-24 hours the ink on that material will automatically disappear, returning to its original state," Quang asserted.

When we questioned the origin of the disappearing ink pen, Quang explained further that the "magic pen" was made in Vietnam, but the ink was from China, and because it was cheap, there was no warranty. To prove its effectiveness, Quang personally "demonstrated" it, then told me to take it home and see the results in 18 hours, and that I could come back to buy it later. True to Quang's description, less than 18 hours later, the ink on the paper had completely disappeared.

According to Quang, this pen is "a sensation" among young people; they buy it to perform magic tricks, and many others seek to buy it because the "magic pen" has helped many companies settle their debts, as the signature disappears after signing, leaving no one to testify. "However, I want to state upfront that the purpose of use depends on each individual; we are not responsible for any damages or benefits from the product..." Quang emphasized.

Beware of "magic pens"

Given the ease with which "magic pens" can be purchased and used, this could lead to dangerous situations in contract signings and goods deliveries. In many cases, the signatures of borrowers or those mortgaging assets disappear overnight, leaving only a blank sheet of paper. Victims believe the perpetrators used these disappearing ink pens to commit fraud.

To combat the "magic pen," some banks have advised their employees not to use customers' pens when signing all bank documents such as withdrawal slips, money transfer slips, and contracts. Employees should prepare pens with durable ink for their clients to sign. Banks have also sent letters to customers warning them about the risk of losing signatures on original documents and encouraging them to use online banking services.

In addition, the transaction departments must strictly adhere to regulations regarding document control, prohibiting any erasures on transaction documents, and verifying the accuracy of the numerical and written amounts, as well as the consistency of the ink color…

According to Associate Professor Pham Thanh Quan, Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, the disappearing ink in pens is simply a chemical trick. The ink is made from reducing dyes; it is present after writing, but depending on temperature and time, it will oxidize and disappear.

"It's very difficult to distinguish this type of pen from a regular pen because the ink and shape are identical. Currently, it's very difficult to control this type of pen because the reducing dyes are readily available. Ideally, before signing any contract, you should thoroughly research your partner and use regular pens with Vietnamese brand names," emphasized Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thanh Quan.

From a lawyer's perspective, there are currently no regulations that penalize or prohibit the use of disappearing ink pens. However, if a user of such pens uses it for any purpose but causes harm to the legitimate rights and interests of others or violates prohibited acts of the law, depending on the consequences, they may be liable for compensation, administrative penalties, or criminal prosecution according to the law.

While these types of pens are still widely available on the market without specific regulations, businesses and individuals should be vigilant and use pens with durable ink for signing documents.

According to Tuoi Tre (TH)