A large-scale cybercrime network operating across northern Vietnam has been dismantled after authorities arrested 35 people linked to online fraud and illegal gambling worth $350 million, or ₹2,925 crore. The arrests were carried out on December 31, during coordinated raids in five northern areas, including Hanoi, according to police in Hung Yen Province. The action reflects Vietnam’s tougher stand against fast-growing digital scams affecting the region.
Investigators said the operation followed months of close monitoring of the group’s activities. Police teams conducted simultaneous raids across several locations in Hung Yen Province and nearby areas just before New Year’s Eve. Special cybercrime units were deployed to counter the group’s advanced use of technology. The timing and scale of the operation helped prevent further losses and exposed how the syndicate operated across multiple cities.
Authorities revealed that the gang mainly used social media platforms to target victims. Fraudsters posted attractive advertisements for popular products at low prices and collected payments through banking apps and online links. Once the money was transferred, the sellers disappeared and goods were never delivered. Fake images and testimonials were used to gain trust, while stolen funds were quickly moved to online gambling platforms to hide their origin.
During the raids, police seized 5 luxury cars and recovered 42 mobile phones containing scripts and victim details. A total of 125 bank accounts across 16 banks were frozen to stop further movement of money. Officials linked the case to a separate mid-December crackdown in Lang Son Province, where 22 Vietnamese suspects were arrested after operating from Cambodia and cheating around 3,000 victims of $285 million, or ₹2,380 crore. Regional cooperation has increased as cyber scams spread across borders. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has warned that Southeast Asia has become a hub for scam operations, with Vietnam alone reporting losses of $1.5 billion, or ₹12,540 crore, since 2020 across more than 24,000 cases.
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