91 arrested in Laos in $57.7mn online scam targeting Vietnamese

Police in northern Vietnam’s Lao Cai Province said on Wednesday that they had worked with Lao authorities to raid the scam operation in Bokeo Province.

A total of 91 people were arrested on September 12, including 64 Vietnamese nationals and 27 foreigners. Those detained included the alleged ringleader and several key members of the group.

Police also seized 65 computers and 192 mobile phones at the site.

According to investigators, the group created Facebook accounts to approach potential victims and gain their trust.

The scammers then persuaded them to complete online shopping tasks on bogus websites in exchange for commissions before taking their money.

Lao Cai police said they had identified the operation as a large-scale transnational scam and launched a special investigation before seeking cooperation from Lao authorities.

Following the raid, Lao police handed over the 64 Vietnamese suspects and related evidence to Lao Cai police for further investigation and legal proceedings.

Preliminary findings showed that the ring had defrauded thousands of Vietnamese victims of more than VND1.5 trillion ($57.5 million) from the beginning of this year until it was busted.

Police are expanding the investigation and gathering further evidence to prosecute those involved.

The Lao Cai Province People’s Committee later awarded the investigation team VND200 million ($7,700) for its role in dismantling the transnational scam ring.