On the evening of March 3, leaders of the Immigration Management Division under the Hanoi Police Department confirmed that officers had broken up the group following coordinated raids.

Raids on four apartments

At around 4 pm on February 28, immigration police simultaneously inspected four suspected locations where foreign nationals were residing.

The locations included apartments in Ciputra Urban Area in Phu Thuong Ward and apartment 1903 in Tower S of Mipec 122-124 Xuan Thuy residential complex in Cau Giay Ward.

During the operation, officers uncovered what investigators described as an organized high-tech fraud ring operating across borders.

Seven foreign suspects were detained at the locations. They included three Chinese nationals and four Japanese nationals.

Authorities identified Z.H., a Chinese national, as the alleged mastermind behind the operation.

Elaborate scam targeting victims in Japan

According to preliminary investigation documents, the group had been carrying out the scheme since August 2025.

The suspects allegedly posed as Japanese police officers, prosecutors and court officials when calling Japanese citizens living in Japan.

They told victims that authorities had found a bag containing their personal documents. The callers then falsely claimed that the victims’ personal data had been used in criminal activities.

Under the pretext of assisting with an investigation, victims were instructed to transfer cryptocurrency, specifically Ethereum (ETH), to accounts controlled by the suspects.

Investigators estimate the group defrauded victims of about VND11 billion (approximately US$450,000).

Dozens of devices and fake uniforms seized

Police seized numerous items believed to be used in the fraud operation.

The confiscated evidence included 65 mobile phones, 19 tablet computers, three laptops and 12 walkie-talkies.

Officers also discovered four sets of Japanese police uniforms along with a quantity of cash.

Authorities are continuing the investigation to clarify the full scope of the scheme and the roles of those involved.

Tien Dung