DA NANG, Vietnam — Vietnamese authorities have arrested three South Korean fugitives accused of orchestrating a deepfake-driven romance scam network, ending a months-long chase across Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
The suspects — Choi Minsu, 26; Choi Jinwoo, 25; and Seo Jaeseok, 28 — allegedly operated out of the Bavet complex on the Cambodia–Vietnam border, a known hub for cyber-scam syndicates.
South Korean investigators say the trio used deepfake software to create realistic female personas and lure male victims into a fabricated “love trap.” Victims were promised fully paid travel missions with reimbursement after completing tasks. Once emotionally engaged, victims were escorted to Vietnam or Thailand and then into Cambodia.
According to authorities, victims had passports seized, were confined in scam compounds, and forced to memorize scripted dialogue for large-scale online fraud operations — a form of forced labor repeatedly warned against by regional governments and NGOs. Between August and December 2024 alone, the scam reportedly netted around US$1 million.
As Cambodian police increased pressure on scam compounds, the suspects fled. In mid-October 2025, Da Nang authorities tracked them to a small hotel in An Hai Ward using information linked to active Interpol Red Notices for fraud, organized crime, and human trafficking.
On October 28, local police conducted a coordinated nighttime raid, arresting all three suspects without resistance.
On December 4, Da Nang Police handed the men over to South Korean officials, who transported them back to South Korea the same night. Authorities in Seoul say the trio could face life imprisonment depending on the final charges.
