In 2024, the Lai Chau Provincial Police Department coordinated with Cambodian forces to dismantle a transnational fraud ring at the Venus2 complex in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province.

The Ministry of Public Security highly praised the operation for significantly reducing the risk of thousands of victims being exploited while fostering strong cooperation between law enforcement agencies in Vietnam and Cambodia.

VietNamNet presents the series "Fighting Crime Abroad" to chronicle the police force’s journey in combating organized crime and the nerve-wracking moments of raiding criminal hideouts.

Colonel Pham Hai Dang, Deputy Director of the Lai Chau Provincial Police Department, shared his profound sadness upon witnessing Vietnamese citizens traveling to Cambodia to scam their fellow countrymen.

Shocking words: "Drop the client, kill the client"

Case 0924L, launched by the Lai Chau Provincial Police Department, targeted and apprehended a cyber fraud ring operating from Cambodian soil. A total of 18 suspects were prosecuted and detained for investigation on charges of fraud and asset appropriation.

Colonel Pham Hai Dang, head of the special investigation team, expressed his heartbreak when hearing the term "kill the client" — a phrase used by the fraudsters when successfully scamming a victim.

In Case 0924L, the criminals used sophisticated tactics to sell vehicles supposedly confiscated by customs, swindling billions of VND from Vietnamese victims. They exploited people’s desire to own cars by advertising attractive, low-cost offers to lure victims into traps.

"A barber from Tan Uyen District lost more than $8,400 within just seven days to a scam ring operating from Cambodia. While the victim was devastated after losing his entire savings, the fraudsters boasted about having 'killed the client' successfully," Colonel Dang recounted.

The scam ring developed their own terminology:

"Drop the client": Engaging victims through Zalo or Facebook and gaining their trust to place deposits.

"Kill the client": Tricking victims into transferring additional money under the pretense of purchasing a "product."

Within just six months, the ring had defrauded hundreds of Vietnamese victims out of more than $540,000. The highest amount stolen from a single victim was around $23,000, while the smallest loss was about $210.

Colonel Dang shared his sorrow over the harsh reality that all the victims were Vietnamese citizens living across 29 provinces and cities in the country.

"It is truly heartbreaking to see Vietnamese nationals deceiving and exploiting their own people," Colonel Dang lamented.

The fall from grace: Confessions from the perpetrators

Case 0924L led to the prosecution and detention of 18 suspects, revealing the intricate structure of the criminal network.

One of the key suspects, Nguyen Hong Quan, acted as a translator and overseer for a group directly involved in fraud at the Venus complex in Bavet City. Initially working as a fruit seller, Quan was introduced to a fraudulent company operated by a Chinese boss in May 2024. The company’s main scheme involved selling confiscated cars at attractive prices.

Quan’s daily tasks included translating instructions from the boss to the fraud team, directing operations, and compiling reports in Chinese to submit to his employer. Despite being fully aware of the scam, Quan admitted to willingly participating, earning a monthly salary of $1,500.

Another prominent figure, Duong Van Thanh (39, from Thai Nguyen), was the leader of a 12-member scam group. Working under the same Chinese boss since June 2024, Thanh was responsible for "killing the clients" and managing team members assigned roles like sales manager, driver, or consultant.

Using the "customs clearance car sale" ruse, Thanh’s group swindled over $250,000 from Vietnamese victims. Thanh personally received nearly $17,000 in wages.

One of the youngest members, Nguyen Duy Hoang (25, from Thanh Hoa), had no formal qualifications and was already deep in debt. After just five months working under Thanh’s group, he managed to defraud seven victims out of around $9,200.

The dark lure of material gain

Colonel Dang emphasized that most of the offenders initially volunteered to travel to Cambodia for work.

Those who failed to perform or learn the scam techniques were “sold” to other companies to cover recruitment costs.

"Most of them knew their actions were wrong but continued out of greed for material gain," Colonel Dang stated.

Cyber fraud has become an increasingly concerning issue, leaving countless victims in despair. The successful crackdown on Case 0924L dismantled a professional scam network, curbing potential criminal activities.

Despite numerous challenges, the Lai Chau Provincial Police Department, with its ingenuity, determination, and professionalism, relentlessly pursued and dismantled the transnational scam ring.

This success story not only thwarts organized crime but also strengthens the bond between Vietnamese and Cambodian law enforcement, reinforcing public trust in the government and police forces.

Doan Bong - Dinh Duong