In a significant law enforcement operation, Vietnamese police have collaborated with the Laotian authorities to dismantle a fraudulent scheme involving QR codes that has scammed more than 1,000 individuals. The operation led to the arrest of 40 suspects in Bokeo, Laos, who were impersonating insurance agents and orchestrating a complex scam.

The investigation, led by the Lai Chau Provincial Police, revealed that the suspects had been operating since June 2023, targeting parents and students under the guise of offering assistance with school insurance and health care. The group, primarily composed of Vietnamese nationals, had established a base in Tonpheung, Bokeo, where they set up a call center to execute their fraudulent activities.

According to the police, the scammers used a three-step approach to deceive their victims. Initially, they contacted parents, instructing them to update their identification information on the VNeID application. Once trust was established, they sent a fake QR code, claiming it was necessary for linking health insurance with bank accounts. When victims followed the instructions, they unknowingly granted the scammers access to their bank accounts, resulting in significant financial losses.

During the raids conducted on July 19 and 20, authorities seized 56 mobile phones, 49 computers, and other related materials. The suspects included individuals with prior criminal records, and some were found to be using drugs at the time of their arrest. The leader of the group, 23-year-old Ha Van Hieu, was identified as a key figure in orchestrating the scam.

In light of this incident, law enforcement officials have issued warnings to the public, advising them against following instructions related to VNeID updates or linking health insurance to bank accounts via phone calls or messaging apps. They emphasized the importance of not scanning QR codes or sharing sensitive information, such as OTP codes, to prevent falling victim to similar scams in the future.