Fake Detention Center Official Scams Business in Cần Thơ

Authorities in Cần Thơ, Vietnam, are warning businesses about a sophisticated scam involving individuals impersonating officials from the Kênh 5 Detention Center to defraud companies.

The scheme targets businesses by placing large orders, in this case for industrial fans. The scammer, identifying themselves as N.V.H from the Planning and Logistics Department of Kênh 5 Detention Center, contacted a local business requesting a significant quantity of fans for official use and demanding a quick delivery.

When the business informed the imposter they could not meet the full order volume, the scammer then "helpfully" introduced them to a "partner company," identified as B.K Mechanical Company. The imposter promised the business they could profit by reselling the goods to this "partner" after acquiring them, suggesting a lucrative deal.

Cần Thơ police revealed this is a carefully orchestrated fraud with distinct roles. One person poses as a government or police official to establish credibility, while another acts as a supplier to create a seemingly legitimate transaction. The entire scenario is designed to manipulate the victim into transferring deposit funds.

Scammers typically target businesses capable of supplying high-value goods or services. They initiate contact via phone, Zalo, or Facebook, immediately leveraging the authority of police or state agencies. The large order creates a sense of urgency and high value. When the target business lacks sufficient stock, the scammer introduces their own fabricated supplier and promises a profit margin. Police caution that the perpetrators exploit the business's desire for profit and time pressures, urging quick deposit payments before the victim can verify information, leading to the theft of assets.