Phạm Thị Huyền Trang Unmasked as Key Mastermind in $40 Million Scam
BẮC NINH — Authorities have revealed that Phạm Thị Huyền Trang, a 26-year-old Vietnamese woman fluent in Chinese, was a central figure in a massive fraud scheme that deceived thousands of victims in Vietnam, amounting to nearly VNĐ1 trillion (US$40 million). Trang played a senior managerial role in this sophisticated network, training scammers, designing manipulative scripts, and coaching her team to impersonate officials like police and tax officers to scam unsuspecting people.
The Bắc Ninh police recently dismantled the fraud ring, arresting nearly 60 individuals, including Trang, who was one of five main ringleaders. The operation, which was based in Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province, targeted Vietnamese citizens, exploiting their fears through elaborate deceptions.
Trang’s role was pivotal — she crafted strategies that preyed on individuals’ concerns, such as identity fraud, school enrollments, and government procedures. “Everyone has a weakness,” Trang admitted during an interview with VTV. “Parents worry about their children. Business owners worry about paperwork. We knew exactly how to get into their heads.”
How the Scam Operated
This high-tech scam network operated through a well-structured three-tiered system: Cào 1, Cào 2, and Cào 3. The first level, Cào 1, involved scammers pretending to be local police, tax officers, or education officials, tricking victims into believing they needed urgent updates to their personal information. Next, Cào 2 persuaded victims to download fake government apps, allowing scammers to remotely access their phones. Finally, Cào 3 drained bank accounts by using the remote access to authorize fraudulent transactions via facial recognition or fingerprint authentication.
Over 13,000 individuals were affected nationwide, with more than 300 victims in Bắc Ninh alone, who lost a combined total of VNĐ31 billion (US$1.24 million). Trang, due to her high-ranking position in the operation, was paid an astounding VNĐ200 million (US$8,000) per month, a shocking salary for someone her age.
Crackdown and Arrests
The operation unraveled when the Vietnamese authorities launched a major crackdown, deploying 43 task forces across border checkpoints and airports. The scammers, who thought they had evaded capture by leaving the country for Tết celebrations, were arrested as soon as they arrived back in Vietnam, with Trang among those taken into custody at Nội Bài Airport.
As of now, 42 individuals have been identified for prosecution, with 38 already detained. Authorities are now expanding the investigation to include charges related to money laundering, illegal migration, and international fraud.
A Wake-Up Call for Citizens
This case has highlighted the growing sophistication of online fraud networks and serves as a stern reminder to the public to be cautious. Authorities are urging citizens not to trust unsolicited calls from “officials” and to be wary of downloading unknown apps that could compromise their devices and personal information.
With investigations still ongoing, more arrests are anticipated, and justice for thousands of victims may soon be served.
