Vietnamese-led scam ring in Cambodia busted for defrauding hundreds via fake app

They announced Sunday they had dismantled a major fraud ring operated by a group of Vietnamese nationals based in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province, near the Vietnamese border.

Thirteen suspects have been detained for alleged fraud and asset appropriation, with Trinh Ngoc Linh, 35, and Ta Thu Ha, 33, of Thanh Hoa City being identified as the kingpins.

The police said that in July 2024 Ha and Linh illegally crossed the border into Cambodia and collaborated with a Chinese group to rent property in an autonomous zone.

To run the scam, they set up 20 computers, recruited young Vietnamese, formed groups on Telegram, and purchased Facebook and Zalo accounts via other criminal gangs to target victims.

Trinh Ngoc Linh (top, L), and Ta Hu Ha and suspects in a scam ring when arrested. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Son

Their scheme involved impersonating attractive young women to befriend men and lure them into performing so-called "tasks" such as playing games, in exchange for large commissions on a fake app platform.

After gaining victims' trust through small, profitable "tasks," the scammers would convince them to invest larger and larger sums.

They would then tell them to complete additional tasks to withdraw their funds.

Once the victims ran out of money, the scammers would cut all contact with them and disappear.

To lay their hands on the scammed money, the group used Vietnamese-registered business accounts provided by the Chinese ring and frequently switched accounts to avoid detection.

The funds were converted into U.S. dollars and transferred back to either Ha or Linh.

The police said hundreds of people in Vietnam fell victim and lost billions of dong [VND1 billion = US$38,400].