VietNamNet Bridge – A female farmer in Soc Trang province, southern Vietnam, who called herself a God, swindled money out of a Vietnamese national in Australia.

The Soc Trang police agency has finalized investigation over the accusation of a farmer couple – Hua Thi Dieu, 49 and Cao Van Anh, 52 of “swindling to appropriate assets.”

The couple used to be shrimp breeders in Gia Hoa 2 commune in My Xuyen district of Soc Trang province. Several years ago, Ms. Dieu called herself as a God who came to the earth to help people driver away ghosts and devils. She organized “len dong” (going into trance) and acted as a fortune-teller.

In mid-2010, a Vietnam-origin woman in Australia, Ms. Quynh, was recommended by her friends to consult fortune-teller Dieu on the phone.

Dieu told Quynh that she was possessed by devils so she was unlucky in love and business. Dieu asked Quynhh to send money to her to build a temple to relieve Quynh of her run of bad luck.

Dieu also said that to expel demons who followed Quynh, she had to invite some wizards from the US and Australia to Vietnam.

Dieu and her husband received around VND7 billion ($350,000) from Quynh over the last two years.

The couple used Quynh’s money to buy land, a car, other assets, deposit at banks and lend to others.

Compiled by Le Ha