LAM DONG, Vietnam — Two men have been arrested for defrauding Vietnamese expatriates living in the United States and Australia out of nearly $39,000 by posing as bank employees and offering fake loans online.
Tran Phuoc Vinh, 25, and Truong Van Tho, 24, both originally from Hue, were detained by Lam Dong police on July 1 on fraud charges. Vinh, who previously served time for online fraud, teamed up with Tho after his release earlier this year to execute the scheme.
Beginning in May, the duo created multiple Facebook accounts impersonating bank staff and posted advertisements promising easy and fast loans to Vietnamese living abroad who were seeking quick cash. They forged documents and instructed victims to pay supposed insurance and tax fees into intermediary bank accounts to secure the loans.
After receiving the money, Vinh and Tho cut off all communication, leaving dozens of victims with losses totaling nearly 1 billion Vietnamese Dong (approximately $39,000).
Authorities continue investigating the case.
