THANH HOA, Vietnam — Two Vietnamese nationals, Trinh Ngoc Linh (35) and Ta Thu Ha (33), have been arrested for allegedly masterminding a large-scale scam in collaboration with a Chinese group operating in Bavet City, Cambodia.
Authorities in Thanh Hoa Province announced on Sunday that they had dismantled a transnational fraud ring that used a fake task-based app to deceive hundreds of victims into transferring money.
According to police, Linh and Ha illegally crossed into Cambodia in July 2024 and partnered with a Chinese criminal group to rent property in an autonomous zone. There, they set up 20 computers, recruited young Vietnamese workers, and formed Telegram groups to lure victims using fake profiles—often impersonating attractive women.
The scheme began with offering simple, profitable “tasks” like playing games or clicking links, supposedly yielding high commissions through a fraudulent app. After gaining victims’ trust, the scammers pressured them into making larger investments. When the victims tried to withdraw funds, they were told to complete even more tasks.
Once victims ran out of money, all contact was severed.
The group used Vietnamese business accounts to funnel the stolen funds, often switching accounts to avoid detection. The money was then converted into U.S. dollars and transferred back to Ha or Linh.
So far, 13 suspects have been detained in connection with the case, and investigations are ongoing.
