Two women posing as doctors, setting up clinics, and defrauding people of over 18 billion VND have been arrested.
Ho Chi Minh City police have just initiated a criminal case, indicted and temporarily detained two individuals who impersonated doctors, organized illegal medical examinations and treatments, and defrauded over 18 billion VND at the BK Dong Yang facility.
On November 7th, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Investigation Agency announced that it had initiated a criminal case, indicted the suspects, and temporarily detained Bui Phuong Ly (born in 1992) and Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Duyen (born in 1998) for investigation into the act of "Fraudulent appropriation of propertyAccording to Article 174 of the Penal Code.
Previously, starting on September 10th, the Internal Political Security Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Police, in coordination with the Tan Hung Ward Police and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, inspected the BK Dong Yang facility (located at 156 Hoang Trong Mau Street, Tan Hung Ward) and discovered a series of serious violations. The facility was found to be impersonating doctors, illegally providing medical examinations and treatment, and showing signs of defrauding people of their money.
Spa disguised as an "international clinic"
According to an investigation by the Ho Chi Minh City Police, from November 2023, Ly and Duyen jointly invested in opening the BK Dong Yang establishment as a sole proprietorship, permitted to provide haircut, massage, and sauna services. However, after only a short time, the two transformed the establishment into an "international clinic," employing staff wearing white lab coats and name tags as "doctors" to advise and "treat" hundreds of people daily. The police have clarified that none of the individuals claiming to be doctors at this establishment possessed medical practice licenses.
To attract customers, this group hired a film crew, set designers, and actors to play Korean doctors and patients to produce numerous misleading advertising videos, promising a "100% cure" for ailments such as joint pain, stomach problems, gout, erectile dysfunction, stroke, etc.
Videos are being uploaded en masse on social media with "Westernized" names such as Dr. Park Joo Hyung – a specialist in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, or Dr. Lee Chang-Yoon – a specialist in treating gastritis. Online consultants entice customers with treatment packages that promise "no medication – no pain – money back if not cured," leading many to believe in their services and seek treatment.
Sophisticated fraud scheme, has swindled over 18 billion VND.
The facility is luxuriously designed, with a reception area, fake medical equipment, and a "staged" consultation process to build trust with customers. After "inventing" illnesses, staff advise on treatment packages using high-tech equipment, costing from a few million to hundreds of millions of dong.
Initial investigations have determined that from November 2023 to September 2025, the BK Dong Yang facility defrauded hundreds of people, appropriating over 18 billion VND. The victims were mainly elderly people, those with chronic illnesses, or gullible individuals who believed advertisements promising "cures without medicine."
The case is currently being further investigated by the Security Investigation Agency of the Ho Chi Minh City Police, clarifying the roles of individuals involved and requesting that anyone who is a victim of the BK Dong Yang establishment contact them to report and cooperate in resolving the case.
| Strictly punish those who call themselves "miracle healers" or "foreign doctors" online. In late October, the Security Investigation Agency of the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department initiated legal proceedings and temporarily detained four individuals who impersonated doctors to commit fraud, transforming a business into the AC International Clinic (located at 19 Phan Xich Long Street, Gia Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City). The police determined that AC International registered as a skincare and cosmetics business, employing individuals without medical licenses, including veterinary technicians, to examine and treat patients. In just five months (from February to July 2025), the group defrauded and misappropriated over 17 billion VND. Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Police have initiated legal proceedings in four cases involving ten defendants related to acts of exploiting illegal medical examinations, rehabilitation, cosmetic procedures, and healthcare services to defraud and misappropriate property. Ho Chi Minh City police advise citizens to be wary of advertisements promising "miracle cures" online and to absolutely not trust establishments that call themselves "international clinics" or "foreign doctors" without proper licenses and professional certificates. Any illegal medical examinations, treatments, or fraudulent activities will be severely punished according to the law. |