Believing scammers offering rituals to ward off bad luck, a woman was swindled out of 2.8 billion VND.

The Criminal Police Department of Gia Lai Provincial Police, in coordination with other relevant agencies, has executed an arrest warrant against Vu Thi Thu Trang (37 years old, residing in Ia Kring ward, Pleiku city) for investigation into the crime of fraud and appropriation of property.

Previously, Trang introduced herself as a member of the "Vietnam Mother Goddess Research and Development Institute," claiming she could perform spirit medium rituals and ceremonies to ward off misfortune and calamities for many families. When she met Mrs. H, Trang told her that Mrs. H and her family were about to face disaster, possibly even death, causing Mrs. H to become extremely worried and frightened, and she asked Trang for help.

Later, Trang asked Ms. H. for money to buy offerings to worship the gods. Believing her, Ms. H. transferred money to Trang several times for rituals to ward off bad luck, totaling 2.8 billion VND. After receiving the money, Trang used part of it to buy offerings and hire people to perform the rituals, while the remaining amount she embezzled for personal use.

Seeing a lucrative opportunity, Trang continued with the aforementioned scheme; however, by this time, Mrs. H. no longer had the financial means to participate. After some time passed without the predicted misfortunes occurring, and realizing Trang's true nature, Mrs. H. filed a complaint with the authorities.

On May 23, the Gia Lai Provincial Police Investigation Agency issued a decision to initiate a criminal case and indict Vu Thi Thu Trang. However, because the defendant is raising a child under 36 months old, the investigating agency applied a preventive measure prohibiting her from leaving her place of residence.