Vietnam police bust gang trading data tied to 8.4 billion hacked email accounts worldwide

The provincial investigation police agency said criminal proceedings have been launched against the suspects for illegal intrusion into computer and telecom networks or electronic devices of others, an offense defined under Article 289 of the Vietnamese Penal Code.

The suspects were identified as L.V.D., 24, from Thanh Hoa Province; D.D.D., 25, from Gia Lai Province; and N.T.T., 26, a resident of Hanoi.

According to investigators, the group contacted foreign individuals via the Telegram messaging platform to purchase leaked email usernames and passwords originating from previous cyberattacks.

After obtaining the credentials, they allegedly used automated software to gain unauthorized access to email accounts, extract and analyze user information, and resell the data on social media platforms for illegal profit.

Police said that from 2024 to 2025, the group traded and exchanged data associated with more than 8.4 billion email accounts worldwide, earning hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong (VND1 million equals about US$38).

All transactions were conducted online, primarily through Telegram, with payments made using cryptocurrencies.

Investigators warned that sensitive information such as citizen identification numbers, bank account details, passwords and one-time passwords shared via email or social media could be exploited for fraud and other criminal activities.

The Tuyen Quang provincial police advised the public to avoid installing applications or software from unverified sources, refrain from clicking on suspicious links, and remain cautious of apps that request abnormal access permissions.

Investigators said they are continuing to expand the investigation to identify and handle other individuals involved in the case in accordance with the law.