VietNamNet Bridge – As many as 300 graduates in four central provinces were scammed into paying a woman who claimed she could help them secure a job in healthcare.

Illustrative image -- File photo

Police in central Thua Thien - Hue Province yesterday prosecuted and arrested Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, 53, a resident of Hue City for allegedly defrauding VND22 billion (US$977,700) from newly-graduated students, who were searching for jobs in the in health sector.

Col. Ho Quang Minh, head of the Thua Thien - Hue investigation agency announced that his agency had prosecuted Hoa for fraud. Minh said his staff had been working with police in other localities on the case.

About 300 people in Da Nang City and Thua Thien - Hue, Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces were deceived by claims that Hoa had a close relationship with officials in the health sector and hospitals.

She promised to get them a job with an advance payment of VND80-120 million ($3,500-5,300) depending on the position. Hoa delivered a piece of paper with her handwriting, stating the amount and conditions to each victim.

Hoa began the scheme in March 2013, when Hue International Hospital was about to open and was offering about 1,000 vacancies.

By March this year, when Hoa's victims began to report to Thua Thien - Hue police, she had defrauded up to 300 people.

Hoa admitted to police that she had got in big debt and the fraud helped her pay this. Observers said the investigation should not finish with Hoa's case but should also look into the transparency of the hospitals in recruitment procedures.

Source: VNS