Vietnam-Cambodia police cooperation busts cross-border car scam ring

In 2024, the Lai Chau Provincial Police Department coordinated with Cambodian forces to dismantle a transnational fraud ring at the Venus2 complex in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province.

The Ministry of Public Security highly praised the operation for significantly reducing the risk of thousands of victims being exploited while fostering strong cooperation between law enforcement agencies in Vietnam and Cambodia.

VietNamNet presents the series "Fighting Crime Abroad" to chronicle the police force’s journey in combating organized crime and the nerve-wracking moments of raiding criminal hideouts.

The dream of owning a car for Pham Van Bac, a barber from Tan Uyen District, Lai Chau Province, was shattered in an instant when he fell victim to a sophisticated online scam. The scheme, orchestrated by tech-savvy fraudsters, cost him his entire savings.

On the afternoon of June 3, 2024, Pham Van Bac’s barbershop was unusually quiet. Like many other days, he scrolled through his phone, dreaming of the car he had always wanted. Suddenly, a Facebook ad caught his attention: a "clearance sale of cars by customs" from a page named "Nam Mien Trung 666".

Intrigued, Bac clicked on the ad and found a Ford Everest 2023 priced at just 11,200 USD (266 million VND), significantly lower than the market price of over 42,000 USD (1 billion VND). Skeptical yet hopeful, he asked for legal documents and proof of authenticity.

The scammer promptly sent a series of seemingly convincing documents, including a business license, contracts with red stamps, and even a fake VTV1 news report showing the company successfully auctioning seized cars. Convinced by the professional presentation, Bac decided to place a deposit.

On June 9 and 10, 2024, Bac transferred a total of 200 million VND (8,400 USD) to the scammers, eagerly awaiting his car delivery. The following day, a supposed delivery driver sent him photos of the car arriving in Lao Cai.

Hours passed, and the car never showed up. Desperate calls to the "driver" and the company went unanswered. Realizing he had been duped, Bac reported the incident to the Tan Uyen District Police.

On June 12, 2024, the Tan Uyen police launched an investigation, uncovering a transnational criminal network. At the core was Duong Van Thanh (39, from Thai Nguyen), the mastermind behind the scam.

Thanh had recruited a team of accomplices, including Kieu Quang Son (31, from Vinh Phuc), dubbed the "tech wizard" for his ability to forge documents and manipulate videos.

Son, despite having only a high school education, had honed his skills in web development, video editing, and digital forgery. He created fake business licenses, contracts, ID cards, and even counterfeit news clips bearing the VTV1 logo. These convincing materials lured victims into trusting the scam.

On September 12, 2024, Thanh was captured at Moc Bai Border Gate (Tay Ninh Province) as he attempted to re-enter Vietnam. Subsequently, Son and five other accomplices were also arrested, bringing down the entire criminal syndicate.

The investigation revealed that the criminal group had operated from Venus2 Complex, Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia. Working closely with Cambodian authorities, Vietnamese police conducted a series of cross-border raids, dismantling the gang.

The crackdown involved coordination between various police units and local authorities across 16 provinces and cities. Led by Colonel Pham Hai Dang, the mission was part of Operation 0924L, under the direct guidance of Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security.

Within a month, the police apprehended six members of the gang and exposed their elaborate network, which had swindled more than 250,000 USD (6 billion VND) from multiple victims.

The operation not only brought justice to Bac and other victims but also marked a significant victory against transnational crime. The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security praised the cross-border cooperation with Cambodian authorities, highlighting the successful dismantling of a sophisticated scam ring that had exploited social media to deceive unsuspecting citizens.