Posing as delivery drivers, fraud ring used a three-stage script to steal nearly 400 million dong

The alleged fraud ring began with a familiar phone call: a fake delivery driver telling victims they had accidentally subscribed to a service costing 4 million dong a month because of a payment error.

If a victim asked to cancel, the call moved to a second stage. Another person posed as a warehouse employee, reinforced the story and directed the victim to a third contact. That person claimed to represent the delivery company, then used fake Facebook accounts and phone calls to instruct the victim to transfer money into accounts prepared by the group.

Police in Lang Son province said nine people were found on Aug. 28 at a rented stilt house in Vu Le commune. The group had allegedly rented the property, bought phones and SIM cards, obtained bank accounts not registered in their own names and collected customer data to run the scheme. Investigators said the proceeds were divided according to an agreement after expenses and payments to members were deducted.

Police identified Nguyen Van Hau, 25, of Hanoi, as the organizer and operator. He allegedly received 50% of the proceeds. Investigators said Hau had previously worked in Cambodia for scam companies run by foreigners. After returning to Vietnam, he allegedly stayed in contact with those employers, who hired him to organize and operate the group.

Authorities said the group defrauded multiple victims and took nearly 400 million dong between Aug. 5 and its discovery. Seven suspects have been charged and held pending investigation. Police urged residents not to transfer money, provide account details or disclose one-time passwords in response to unverified calls from supposed delivery workers or companies.