Police in Vietnam Bust Scam Ring, Repatriate 34 Foreigners

Vietnamese police raided a house in Mong Cai, a border town next to China, and found 34 foreign nationals living there illegally. The group included 31 Filipinos, two Chinese, and one Malaysian. Officers seized 75 mobile phones, 31 laptops, seven desktop computers, one tablet, and networking gear.

The foreigners told investigators they were recruited through messaging apps Telegram, WeChat, and Viber by Chinese nationals they had never met in person. The recruiters promised high-paying jobs in online sales and customer service and gave step-by-step instructions to reach Mong Cai. The group said they initially entered Vietnam as tourists, hoping to find legitimate work.

Police said the hardware had already been set up by the recruiters before the foreigners arrived. The operation was dismantled before any scam was carried out.

All 34 cooperated with authorities, providing information to help identify the wider criminal network. Two Chinese nationals were repatriated through the Mong Cai International Border Gate. The other 32 were flown out of Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.