Vietnam police bust romance‑investment fraud network, arrest 61 suspects

The Quang Tri provincial police announced the dismantling of a sophisticated online fraud ring that operated from Cambodia and used social‑media platforms to target middle‑aged women across Vietnam. The group lured victims with false romantic relationships and then directed them to invest in counterfeit online trading platforms, promising high returns. Victims were persuaded to download apps, open accounts and transfer money, initially seeing small withdrawals to build trust before larger sums were siphoned. Authorities estimate the scheme could have stolen up to 3 trillion Vietnamese dong (about US$130 million) annually, with a single victim in Quang Tri losing more than 2.5 billion dong. After a coordinated investigation, 61 suspects were arrested and charged with organized fraud. Police urged the public to remain vigilant against unsolicited online contacts offering romance or high‑profit investments and to report suspicious activity.

The investigation involved a special criminal‑justice task force that tracked the ring’s operations, secured electronic evidence, and identified the financial flow to the fake platforms. The operation highlights growing concerns over cross‑border cyber‑crime networks exploiting social media for financial fraud.