Vietnam Court Sentences Fraudster Phan Thị Thu Trang to Life Imprisonment for 28 Billion VND Scam

On 23 June, a Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced Phan Thị Thu Trang, aged 33, to life imprisonment for a fraud scheme that defrauded 31 victims of more than 28 billion VND (about US$1.2 million). She pretended to offer supernatural services—“vong nhập”, “bùa ngải”, and other rites—to remove curses and solve personal problems, demanding large payments before performing the ceremonies.

Investigators traced the fraud from March 2023 to September 2024, recovering phones, laptops, tarot cards, and other ritual paraphernalia. The court ordered Trang to compensate all victims in full, emphasizing the severe social danger of her actions and the need for a deterrent sentence.

The case highlights the growing use of superstitious scams in Vietnam and underscores the judicial system’s crackdown on large‑scale financial fraud.