Three individuals arrested for impersonating journalists and reporters to commit fraud and extort money.

Previously, through intelligence gathering in the area, the Quy Hop District Police discovered that three individuals posing as journalists and reporters were approaching agencies and businesses in the district to "cooperate," write articles, and "solicit" donations for the April 30th - May 1st holiday.

The Quy Hop District Police have proactively coordinated and exchanged information with agencies and businesses in the area, and if they detect individuals exhibiting the aforementioned behavior, they are to immediately report it to the Quy Hop District Police for coordinated handling.

On April 28th, several agencies and businesses reported that three individuals claiming to be reporters from the Health and Environment Magazine and the Vietnam Clean Energy Magazine had come to their offices exhibiting the aforementioned behavior. Immediately after receiving the information, the Quy Hop District Police reported to the Provincial Police leadership and proceeded to question the three individuals.

Through identity verification, the three individuals were identified as: Ho Van Tam (born in 1986), residing in Tranh Dau village, Gia Xuyen commune, Hai Duong city, Hai Duong province; Pham Khuong Duy (born in 1983) and Pham Viet Thang (born in 1987), both residing in Tuyen Quang city, Tuyen Quang province.

The letter of introduction used by the individuals and the official document from the Health and Environment Magazine sent to the Quy Hop District Police. Photo: Hong Ngoc

The individuals presented a letter of introduction bearing the name of the magazine "Health and Environment," number 98/GGT/SK&MT, addressed to the People's Committee of Nghe An province, the Provincial Police, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of the district and commune, introducing Ho Van Tam for work. The letter of introduction was signed, stamped, and listed the Editor-in-Chief as Dr. Pham Thi My. Ho Van Tam was unable to produce a reporter's card or journalist's card.

Immediately, the Quy Hop District Police sent a request for verification to the Health and Environment Magazine. On April 28th, the Health and Environment Magazine responded with a letter stating that the aforementioned letter of introduction was fake. The letter also confirmed that all three individuals were not reporters of the magazine.

During questioning by the investigating agency, Ho Van Tam confessed that he works as a scrap metal trader and resides in Thai Nguyen city. Duy and Thang are probationary reporters for the Vietnam Clean Energy Magazine, operating in the area from Ninh Binh northward. The suspects admitted that, recognizing environmental issues as a sensitive topic, they colluded to...Fraudulent appropriation of property.

Ho Van Tam, in collusion with another individual, obtained a forged letter of introduction. Tam then wrote on the letter that he was going to various agencies and units to collect information for a research project on environmental protection in mineral exploitation. Afterward, the three individuals used these forged documents to pressure agencies and businesses, soliciting advertising and support, with the aim of extorting money which they then divided among themselves.

The suspects Ho Van Tam (center), Pham Khuong Duy, and Pham Viet Thang. Photo: Hong Ngoc

The suspects confessed that, from April 20th until their arrest by the Quy Hop District Police on April 28th, they had used the aforementioned method to defraud and embezzle nearly 30 million VND from several agencies and businesses in Quy Hop District.

Currently, the Criminal Investigation Agency of Quy Hop District Police is continuing to expand the investigation.

Ruby