Claiming to be the "Vietnam-Cuba Corporation": Scamming over 300 communes in 32 provinces and cities.

On September 18th, the competent authorities received the latest report from the Security Investigation Agency of the Quang Binh Provincial Police regarding the fraudulent activities of a group of people impersonating State officials and representing the "Vietnam-Cuba Group" (which in reality does not exist - PV).

The main suspect, Nguyen Van Am (pictured), 50 years old, residing in Dong Ninh commune, Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen province, who self-proclaimed himself Chairman of the Vietnam-Cuba Construction Group (VIS Group), has been charged and detained for "fraudulent appropriation of property." Four other suspects have also been subjected to necessary legal proceedings by the police: Kim Thi Minh Nhuan, 35 years old, residing in Kim Son commune, Gia Lam district, Hanoi; Pham Uong, 53 years old, residing in Nhat Tan, Gia Loc district, Hai Duong province; Le Trung Cuong, 47 years old, residing in Thanh Hoa city, Thanh Hoa province; and Nguyen Van Vinh, 57 years old, residing in Co Bi commune, Gia Lam district, Hanoi.

The suspect is Nguyen Van Am.

According to the investigating agency, taking advantage of the new rural development policy and the desire of localities to secure funding for implementation, around the beginning of 2013, Nguyen Van Am, under the guise of being the Chairman of VIS Group, visited various localities to "inspect" livestock farms and construction projects such as inter-village roads, kindergartens, health stations, canals, and cultural centers.

Wherever Am went, he boasted about his close relationships with many high-ranking officials to gain the trust of local leaders and businesses. Am also instructed his accomplices to create fake contracts to spread the word in various localities that the VIS Group was entrusted with managing and allocating non-governmental funds to support rural development. From there, Am and his associates suggested that companies and businesses advertise and promote their projects on television in order to be awarded construction contracts in the communes for 5 million VND per project.

The investigating agency has collected documents showing that Nguyen Van Am and his accomplices visited more than 300 communes in 32 provinces and cities to receive applications for funding from the VIS Group for rural development projects. Ninety companies submitted applications to undertake construction projects designed by Am. Using this scheme, Nguyen Van Am embezzled over 4 billion VND.

During the search, the police seized numerous items from the five suspects; including nearly 60 sets of application files from communes in 41 districts and 22 provinces and cities requesting funding support; 67 company profiles; nearly 240 million VND, one police peaked cap, one electric baton, and one VTV News reporter's card...

Notably, the police also seized several photos that Am had digitally altered with images of leading officials for the purpose of deception. In addition, the police confiscated over 300 files and applications from the remaining four suspects, sent from 145 districts in 56 provinces and cities to the "VIS Group," requesting investment capital assistance. This serious case is currently under active investigation by the authorities.

According to Hanoi Security