Police detect a highly organised, transnational high-tech fraud ring. — Photo courtesy of the Hà Nội Police

HÀ NỘI — A gang impersonating Japanese police to carry out scams had been dismantled, the Hà Nội Police announced on Tuesday evening.

The police arrested seven suspects and seizing numerous devices.

The gang had defrauded citizens of approximately VNĐ11 billion (US$420,000) in cryptocurrency.

During the high-intensity crackdown on crime to support the election of National Assembly deputies for the 16th tenure and People's Council deputies at all levels for the 2026–2031 term, at 4pm on February 28, the Immigration Department under the Hà Nội Police simultaneously inspected four suspicious locations believed to house foreigners in Ciputra Urban Area in Phú Thượng Ward and apartment 1903, Block S, Mipec Apartment Building at 122–124 Xuân Thủy in Cầu Giấy Ward.

The inspection uncovered and dismantled a highly organised, transnational high-tech fraud ring.

At the scene, police discovered seven foreign nationals, including three Chinese nationals and four Japanese nationals, showing signs of conducting online property fraud.

Z.H., with Chinese national, was identified as the ringleader.

According to initial investigation documents, from August last year to date, the suspects had devised a script impersonating Japanese police, prosecutors and courts, calling citizens living in Japan.

The gang informed victims that they had "found a bag of documents" belonging to them, while providing false information that their personal data had been used in criminal activities.

They demanded cooperation in "investigation verification" and coerced transfers of Ethereum (ETH) cryptocurrency "for investigative purposes."

Seized items included 65 mobile phones, 19 tablets, three laptops, 12 walkie-talkies, four sets of Japanese police uniforms, and some cash in Vietnamese đồng.

Previously, in January this year, the Immigration Department had also detected and dismantled another organised, transnational high-tech fraud ring led by Chinese nationals, who used Koreans to target South Korean citizens.

The case highlights the increasingly complex nature of law-breaking involving foreigners, often organised and transnational. The perpetrators exploit liberal e-visa policies to enter Việt Nam legally, choosing Hà Nội as a base to reside and hide, then colluding with other nationals to orchestrate scams targeting foreign citizens, adversely affecting national security, public order and the country's image. — VNS