Vietnam Fortune Teller Phan Thị Thu Trang Sentenced to Life in Prison for Fraud

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court sentenced Phan Thị Thu Trang, a self‑styled fortune‑teller born in 1989, to life imprisonment on 23 June for large‑scale fraud. Investigators said she used Facebook and Zalo accounts to pose as a spiritual adviser, claiming the ability to predict misfortunes and perform rituals to avert them. Between March 2023 and September 2024 she persuaded 31 victims to transfer money for alleged “cure” ceremonies, extracting more than 28.1 billion VND (about US$1.2 million). The court ordered her to compensate the full amount to the victims. Police highlighted that the scheme exploited superstitions and modern technology, causing significant financial loss and undermining public order.

The case underscores Vietnamese authorities’ focus on combating fraud that leverages spiritual beliefs, and it serves as a warning to the public about online scams disguised as fortune‑telling services.