Over 50 Chinese arrested in Vietnam for online fraud scheme

By Pham Du October 31, 2025 | 08:00 pm PT

Vietnamese police have arrested over 50 Chinese nationals involved in an online fraud ring that targeted Chinese citizens through cryptocurrency scams and high-interest loans, following cooperation between the two countries.

The Criminal Investigation Department under the Ministry of Public Security announced on Friday that all the suspects, along with their case files, have been handed over to Chinese authorities for further investigation.

Following information provided by Chinese counterparts, Vietnamese authorities discovered that the fraud groups were operating and hiding in apartment complexes in Hanoi and Da Nang. Since late September, over 50 individuals listed by China have been arrested.

Chinese nationals arrested by Vietnamese police. Photo by police

Chinese nationals arrested by Vietnamese police in Hanoi. Photo by police

For the group in Hanoi, police confirmed that they were hired by a Chinese mastermind to come to Vietnam, where accommodation and workspaces were arranged. They were promised a monthly salary of 5,000 yuan (US$703) in addition to a 10% commission on the amount they could swindle from others each month.

The employer, whose identity has not been disclosed, assigned tasks through secure chat software that automatically logged in and deleted all data after use. Every day, the group used computers to play Chinese online games, forming relationships with potential victims.

Once a bond was established, they encouraged victims to play other games, tricking them into accessing suspicious links to steal cryptocurrency.

The group in Da Nang were hired by a Chinese loan shark, offering high-interest loans via an app and demanding repayment from borrowers. Each person was paid between 7,000 to 20,000 yuan, depending on the amount loaned and recovered.

Police raid a facility where Chinese nationals operate a loan shark ring in Da Nang City. Photo by police

Every day, the Da Nang group contacted Chinese borrowers, advising them on subsequent high-interest loan packages. If the borrower failed to repay, the information was passed on to their boss for further action.

According to police, these arrests were part of a major effort to combat online fraud and gambling, coordinated between Vietnam and China since early this year.