Vietnam busts 'free bird's nest' scam targeting elderly, defrauding 7,000

Vietnamese police have busted a sophisticated fraud operation that preyed on nearly 7,000 vulnerable individuals, primarily the elderly, with the promise of free bird's nest products. The ringleader, Trần Quang Đạo, and his associates allegedly swindled victims out of approximately 40 billion Vietnamese dong (about $1.6 million USD).

“

Just with the lure of a box of 'free' bird's nest, defendant Trần Quang Đạo and his accomplices have siphoned nearly 40 billion dong from nearly 7,000 disadvantaged victims.

Trần Quang Đạo, 34, established a network of four companies and a Tiktok shop, using his mother, brother, and friends to act as nominal owners. These businesses, outwardly appearing to deal in functional foods and household goods, were fronts for Đạo's elaborate scam. He personally recruited and managed staff, developing detailed scripts and training them to execute the fraudulent scheme with professional precision.

“

The employees will impersonate officials from the Nutrition Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City, the Vaccine Vaccination Center, or large companies. They will call to inform customers that they have been lucky enough to receive a free 12-month supply of bird's nest (1 box per month, 6 bottles per box).

The scam targeted individuals seeking health supplements and the elderly. Employees, posing as representatives from reputable institutions like the Nutrition Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City or major companies, contacted victims. They informed them they had been selected to receive a year's supply of bird's nest products for free. The only cost initially requested was a 279,000 VND shipping fee for the first delivery, designed to build trust.

“

They will ask the victim to pay only 279,000 VND for the first shipping fee, a sum collected by the delivery person, with subsequent deliveries being completely free to gain trust.

Once a victim agreed and paid the shipping fee, the company would package a bird's nest product, purchased for a mere 79,000 VND, and attach a "prize code." After the victim received the item, the fraudsters would call again, congratulating them on winning significant prizes like massage chairs or refrigerators, valued between 10 million and 100 million VND. To claim these supposed winnings, victims were then required to pay a "processing fee" ranging from 730,000 to 990,000 VND, trapping them further in the elaborate deception.

“

However, to receive the prize, the victim must pay a 'processing fee' from 730,000 VND to 990,000 VND.