Cao Van Hieu, 28, and Mai Thanh Quoc, 26, were arrested on Tuesday after being linked to the hacking of 1,000 Facebook accounts and scamming more than VND10 billion (US$400,000) from approximately 500 victims nationwide.
According to the Da Nang City Police, the investigation began after multiple reports from victims who had been contacted by individuals impersonating their relatives abroad. These impersonators sent messages and made phone calls via Facebook, persuading victims to invest money in fraudulent schemes.
The two suspects confessed to using various hacking techniques to access Facebook accounts of Vietnamese citizens living abroad. They then used these hacked accounts to impersonate their relatives and solicit investments.
To avoid detection, the criminals laundered the stolen funds through gaming accounts, which made it difficult for authorities to trace the stolen money. The suspects reportedly started the fraud operation in early 2024.
The investigation revealed that the scam caused victims significant financial losses, with some reporting losses of up to VND750 million. Authorities have identified victims in Soc Trang, Kien Giang, Thua Thien Hue, and Da Nang provinces.
Police are urging anyone who may have fallen victim to this scam to come forward and provide information for further investigation.