Hanoi police rescue student from Zalo account hijacking scam

Police in Phu Thuong Ward, Hanoi, successfully rescued a male student after scammers hijacked his Zalo account to extort 100 million VND from his family. The perpetrators used psychological manipulation by impersonating police officers and falsely claiming the student was involved in a transnational drug trafficking case.

To isolate the victim, the scammers instructed him to rent a room at a guesthouse to stay away from relatives under remote surveillance. Once they gained control of his Zalo account, they contacted his family, claiming he had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom. Local authorities intervened to locate the student and prevented the family from transferring the money, ensuring the student returned home safely.