Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuchas sent a letter lauding Hanoi police’s recent feat of uncovering a fraudscheme seeking to profit from US citizens’ demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter highlighted the Government leader’s applause ofthe successful mission, saying it demonstrates the force’s high responsibilityand sharp professional skills and contributes to ensuring political security,social safety and order, as well as building Vietnamese police’s imageinternationally.
“On behalf of the Government, I acknowledge and highly valuethe achievements of the Ministry of Public Security in general and the Hanoipolice in particular in protecting political stability as well as social safetyand order,” the PM said, expressing his wish for further feats to be made inthe future.
In May, the Ministry of Public Security and the US’sHomeland Security Investigation (HSI) began a joint probe into a gang ofVietnamese who created 110 e-commerce websites that fraudulently offered sought-aftermedical products during the pandemic, such as face masks, hand sanitiser, andtoilet paper.
Over 5,000 Americans had attempted to purchase these itemsfrom the websites. They made payments through e-wallets but never received thegoods. The transactions were estimated to be valued at around 975,000 USD.
Police in Hanoi’s Hoang Mai district issued decisions tostart legal proceedings against and detain four suspects for “appropriation ofproperty using a computer network, telecommunications network, or electronicdevice.”
The arrested are Nguyen Duy Toan and Phan Dinh Thu, both 33and from the central province of Thanh Hoa; Tran Quoc Khanh, 36, from Hanoi’sHoang Mai district; and Do Chi Huy, 27, from the Central Highlands province DakLak. Toan is accused of being the mastermind behind the fraud./.
VNA
