VietNamNet Bridge – The northern border province of Lang Son's Police have started investigations into the affairs of a woman who is believed to have run off with hundreds of billions of dong.

Le Thi Minh Phuong, 47, owner of a money exchange shop in Hoang Van Thu Ward in Lang Son City, is said to have disappeared with the huge amount.

Le Hong May, a resident in the city's Tran Dang Ninh Road, said she had lent Phuong more than VND1 billion (US$47,600).

Dozens of other people also claimed to have lent her a total of more than VND100 billion ($4.7 million).

Another resident, Pham Thi Thuy, in Van Lang District said she had loaned Phuong money for many years and Phuong always paid the interest back in time. However, this time, Phuong owes Thuy VND3 billion ($140,800).

Thuy also added that one person had loaned Phuong more than VND20 billion ($950,000).

Phuong is known for selling Chinese goods and is said to have had close relations with many Chinese traders.

Recently, business people from the northern province of Bac Ninh and HCM City visited her to do business. All those who loaned Phuong money were long-time acquaintances.

Do Thi Thuy, who lives in Vinh Trai Ward, said Phuong asked her to borrow VND2.4 billion ($114,200) on September 14 and promised to pay the money back the same evening.

Two days later she called Phuong to ask for the money back, however, Phuong did not answer her phone.

Many other lenders went to Phuong's house but her husband and children said that they did not know where she was.

The lenders said that they gave Phuong the money without any receipts as they had worked with her for a long time.

Source: VNS