Police read out the order to initiate criminal proceedings and indict 10 defendants for the crime of deceiving customers in the central province of Nghệ An. — Photo courtesy of the police

NGHỆ AN — Police in the central province of Nghệ An have dismantled an alleged fraud ring operating under the guise of a private medical clinic, prosecuting 10 suspects for deceiving customers.

Police said the group used a range of deceptive tactics to exaggerate or fabricate patients' medical conditions, pressuring them into paying for treatment packages costing many times more than their actual value.

Initial findings indicate that thousands of patients sought consultations and treatment at the clinic, with total payments amounting to tens of billions of đồng.

The police have so far interviewed nearly 100 victims and determined that the suspects illegally obtained almost VNĐ500 million (US$19,000).

More alleged victims have continued to come forward to report the clinic's practices.

The police found that around September 2024, a group from outside the province, led by Tạ Thị Cẩm Vân, 39, from Hà Nội's Phú Thượng Ward, established the Nghệ An General Medical Clinic, operated by Nghệ An Medical Co., Ltd.

After opening, the clinic recruited several doctors and healthcare workers, while also renting medical licences and employing unqualified individuals to conduct examinations and provide consultations.

Operating under the guise of providing men's and women's reproductive healthcare services, the group allegedly organised a scheme to defraud patients.

Their method involved deliberately inventing illnesses and arranging for three or four staff members to repeatedly confer in front of patients, creating the impression that the conditions were serious.

Patients were falsely warned that they faced infertility, severe reproductive health complications or even cancer if they did not undergo immediate treatment.

To attract customers, the clinic reportedly spent billions of đồng each month on extensive advertising across social media platforms, promoting what it described as leading specialists while offering low-cost initial consultations.

Police said the suspects also used sophisticated methods to fabricate evidence of disease.

These allegedly included injecting soy milk into a patient's urethra before withdrawing it to resemble pus, then claiming the patient had a serious infection; applying Acyclovir ointment to the cervix before using a colposcope to produce images resembling suppurating tissue and diagnosing severe gynaecological disease; and even using metal instruments to cause pain to the uterus to heighten patients' anxiety.

The alleged deception typically took place during examinations or while patients were lying on treatment tables in pain and distress.

Exploiting their fear, staff pressured them into agreeing to immediate treatment at inflated prices.

Once patients consented, investigators said the clinic often performed only basic procedures, such as cleaning, irrigation or circumcision, while charging different prices under various treatment packages despite using essentially the same methods.

Some patients reportedly paid tens of millions of đồng for a single consultation and treatment.

The police are expanding their inquiry to determine the roles of other individuals connected to the case and pursue legal action in accordance with the law.

The police have also urged the public to carefully verify information before choosing medical providers and to remain cautious of advertisements promoting unusually cheap consultations, guaranteed rapid treatment or high-pressure sales tactics designed to frighten patients into purchasing unnecessary services. — VNS