Police bust Chinese-led fake e-commerce scam targeting French citizens
VOV.VN - Police in Vietnam’s northern Bac Ninh province have dismantled a cyber fraud ring involving 11 Chinese nationals accused of operating a fake e-commerce investment platform that allegedly defrauded French citizens through social media, encrypted messaging apps and cryptocurrency transactions.
The case was uncovered during a province-wide inspection of accommodation facilities and rental properties housing foreign nationals, launched under the direction of the provincial police.
Following intelligence gathering and screening of suspicious cases, investigators identified an organised operation and raided a rented house in Vo Cuong ward on July 2.
Police found 11 Chinese nationals using multiple electronic devices allegedly to conduct online fraud. They seized 11 laptop computers, 12 mobile phones and a large volume of electronic data for further investigation.
According to preliminary findings, the suspects used Facebook to approach potential victims, most of whom were French citizens, before persuading them to invest through a fraudulent online marketplace known as Lucky Coin Mall.
Investigators said the group operated under a highly organised structure, with members assigned specific roles ranging from identifying targets and building trust to providing investment guidance and managing communications.
To convince victims that the platform was legitimate, the group invited victims to staged Telegram groups populated with fake accounts that continuously posted fabricated investment profits and success stories.
Once victims transferred money, they were encouraged to invest larger sums. When they attempted to withdraw their funds, the suspects demanded additional payments under various pretexts, including taxes, account verification fees and account unlocking charges.
After obtaining as much money as possible, the group allegedly cut off all contact and appropriated the victims’ assets.
Investigators believed the operation functioned as a closed criminal network with clearly defined responsibilities covering victim recruitment, investment manipulation, fund management and money laundering.
According to police, the suspects allegedly laundered the proceeds through cryptocurrency transactions in an attempt to conceal the origin of the funds.
The extensive use of social media platforms, translation software, encrypted messaging applications and cryptocurrencies highlights the increasingly sophisticated and transnational nature of cyber-enabled financial fraud, investigators said.
The Security Investigation Agency of the Bac Ninh Provincial Police is continuing its investigation to clarify the role of each suspect, trace financial flows and handle the case in accordance with Vietnamese law.
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