The police in Phu Tho province announced on August 30, 2026, that they have charged a group of teenagers for extorting money from a victim by forcing them to provide their ZaloPay password. This incident raises alarms about the misuse of digital payment systems among youth.

According to the authorities, on the night of August 26, 2026, they received a report regarding a young victim, N.D.T., born in 2012, who was threatened by a group of teenagers. The group allegedly stole the victim's phone and money from their account.

Within 24 hours, police identified three suspects: Nguyen Manh Q. (born in 2008), Nguyen Van Q. (born in 2010), and Nguyen Minh K. (born in 2007), all residing in the same area as the victim. Initial investigations revealed that on the afternoon of August 26, Nguyen Manh Q. was riding a motorcycle with K. and Q. when they encountered another child, D.T.S. (also born in 2012), who was riding an electric bike with N.D.T.

After stopping the victim, the suspects threatened them and demanded their belongings. Fearing for their safety, N.D.T. handed over an iPhone 14 to the group. Later, when the victim sought to retrieve their phone, they were coerced into providing their ZaloPay password under threat of further violence.

Nguyen Manh Q. then used the victim's account to transfer 1.25 million VND to his own ZaloPay account. Following the collection of evidence, the police initiated legal proceedings against the group for extortion under Article 170 of the Penal Code.

As the investigation continues, Nguyen Minh K. has been detained, while the other two suspects are under restrictions preventing them from leaving their homes. This case underscores the need for increased awareness and protective measures regarding digital financial transactions among young people.