Authorities in Vietnam’s capital have dismantled a sophisticated cross-border fraud operation run from luxury apartments in Hanoi, arresting several foreign suspects accused of impersonating Japanese police and prosecutors to scam victims out of nearly 11 billion VND (about $440,000).
The operation highlights how international cybercrime networks are increasingly using Southeast Asian cities as operational hubs, targeting victims overseas while hiding behind encrypted communications and cryptocurrency payments.
Police say the suspects ran the scheme from residential properties in high-end neighborhoods in Hanoi.
Raids at Luxury Apartments
According to Hanoi Police, officers simultaneously inspected four locations suspected of housing foreign nationals involved in the fraud.
The raids took place at:
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Apartments in Ciputra Urban Area, a major expatriate residential complex
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Unit 1903 in Mipec Apartment Building, located on Xuan Thuy Street in the Cau Giay district
During the operation, investigators detained seven foreign suspects, including:
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Three Chinese nationals
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Four Japanese nationals
Police identified Z.H., a Chinese national, as the alleged ringleader behind the operation.
Authorities say the group had been running the scam since August 2025.
Posing as Japanese Police
Investigators say the suspects used a well-known scam tactic that has surged in Japan: impersonating law enforcement officials over the phone.
Victims—typically Japanese residents—were contacted by callers posing as:
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Police officers
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Prosecutors
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Court officials
The callers falsely claimed they had found a bag containing the victim’s personal documents and warned that the victim’s identity had allegedly been linked to criminal activity.
Victims were then pressured to cooperate with a supposed investigation.
Crypto Payments for “Investigation”
To clear themselves of suspicion, victims were instructed to transfer Ethereum (ETH) cryptocurrency as part of a fake “investigative process.”
Police estimate the group obtained around 11 billion VND through the scheme.
Police working with the suspects – Photo: Provided by the police
Authorities seized a large amount of equipment believed to be used in the operation, including:
The uniforms were allegedly used to make the scam calls appear more convincing during video communications.
Vietnam Increasingly Targeted by International Cybercrime Networks
The case comes as authorities across Asia report a surge in international phone and online scams, many involving criminal networks operating across multiple countries.
In January 2026, Hanoi police also dismantled another transnational fraud group allegedly led by Chinese suspects who recruited South Korean nationals to scam victims in South Korea.
Officials say investigations into the latest case are continuing as authorities work to determine the full scale of the operation and possible international connections.
Source: Vietnam Insider