Da Nang Scammer Targets Parents of Overseas Students: Arrest Made

Photo courtesy of VN Express

Authorities in Da Nang have apprehended a man accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that preyed on the families of Vietnamese students studying abroad. The scam involved creating fake Facebook accounts using the students' identities, netting a total of 1.9 billion VND (approximately 2.6 million Thai Baht).

The case came to light on June 3 when a concerned mother from Hoa Khanh Ward reported receiving a message through what seemed to be her daughter’s Facebook account. Her daughter is currently studying in the United States. The message requested a money transfer for a business investment. Trusting the source, the 57-year-old woman sent 680 million VND (roughly 930,000 Thai Baht) to the specified account. However, soon after transferring the funds, all communication ceased, alerting her to the scam.

Following the complaint, Da Nang police launched a swift investigation and identified the suspect as Nguyen Viet Hoang, a 26-year-old from Quang Tri Province. Upon his arrest, Hoang confessed to using multiple SIM cards to set up fake Facebook profiles, mimicking the names and appearances of genuine Vietnamese students studying overseas.

To execute his scheme, Hoang initially made video calls and sent messages to gain the trust of the students’ unsuspecting families. After establishing a connection, he would claim network issues and switch to text messaging, spinning elaborate stories to coax victims into transferring money either for currency exchange or fictitious investments. He even fabricated money-transfer receipts to bolster his claims.

From January to June, Hoang executed numerous such scams across various provinces. In Da Nang alone, he deceived two victims into parting with a total of 1.3 billion VND (about 1.78 million Thai Baht), indicating the extensive reach of his ploy.

The police urge anyone else who might have fallen victim to this scam to step forward and report their experiences, as they continue to untangle the full extent of Hoang’s fraudulent activities.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in online communications, especially involving financial transactions. As authorities work to recover lost funds and prevent further scams, it highlights the importance of verifying identities and using secure methods when transferring money.

With this arrest, law enforcement hopes to deter similar crimes and reassure the public of their commitment to cracking down on cybercrime. They also encourage families to have open discussions about such risks, particularly when children are studying or travelling abroad.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-23