A disturbing medical fraud scheme has been revealed at the Nghệ An General Medical Clinic, where a group of individuals employed various tactics to fabricate illnesses, instilling fear in patients to compel them to pay for overpriced treatment packages. The Nghệ An Provincial Police have initiated legal proceedings against ten suspects for customer fraud.
On July 23, the Economic Police Department of Nghệ An reported that they had dismantled a fraudulent operation masquerading as a medical clinic. The investigation revealed that the clinic, established by Tạ Thị Cẩm Vân in September 2024, employed unqualified personnel and even used fake medical degrees to mislead patients.
The clinic's staff, under the pretense of providing urological and gynecological treatments, manipulated patients into believing they had serious health issues, including infertility risks and potential cancer diagnoses if they did not receive immediate treatment. This psychological pressure forced many patients to opt for treatment packages costing significantly more than the actual value of the services provided.
According to the investigation, the clinic's staff used deceptive methods to simulate medical conditions. For instance, they injected soybean milk into the urinary tract and then withdrew it to create the appearance of pus, falsely informing patients of severe infections. They also applied Acyclovir ointment to the cervix and used imaging equipment to produce misleading images suggesting serious gynecological diseases. In some cases, they even caused physical pain to convince patients of dire health risks.
The consultation often occurred while patients were on the examination table or during procedures, exploiting their distress and confusion to pressure them into immediate treatment decisions. Once patients consented, the clinic primarily performed simple procedures like cleaning or circumcision but charged them under various treatment packages at prices inflated by hundreds of times.
Many patients reported paying tens of millions of VND after just one visit for examination and treatment. The investigation revealed that thousands of patients had fallen victim to this scam, with the total amount charged reaching billions of VND.
To attract customers, the clinic spent millions on advertising across social media platforms, promoting a team of top doctors and offering initial consultations at very low prices to lure in the public.
During a raid, police seized numerous documents, records, and equipment related to the fraudulent activities and questioned 35 individuals present at the clinic. The ten suspects charged include Tạ Thị Cẩm Vân, Lê Thị Dung, and others, with initial findings indicating that nearly 100 victims have come forward, reporting losses totaling around 500 million VND.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities urging the public to thoroughly research medical facilities before seeking treatment and to be cautious of advertisements promising low prices or quick results that create unnecessary panic.
The Economic Police Department encourages anyone who has received treatment at the Nghệ An General Medical Clinic and feels their legal rights have been violated to contact them for assistance.
