Hanoi’s Department of Public Security has warned that foreign criminal networks are increasingly moving operations to Vietnam following intensified crackdowns in parts of Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia, as reported by VietNamNet.
Speaking at a recent press conference, a department representative said the groups are involved in transnational fraud and online gambling activities using increasingly sophisticated technology and structured organization. Between December 15 and March 14, authorities uncovered three cases involving 58 foreign nationals suspected of fraud, organizing gambling operations and illegal entry.
According to investigators, many of the operations are directed remotely by ringleaders based overseas. These leaders allegedly work with Vietnamese accomplices to rent apartments and upscale residential buildings that serve as operational hubs. Inside the rented properties, suspects install computer systems, simbox devices and large numbers of mobile phones to facilitate online scams and illegal betting activities.
To conceal their activities, the groups reportedly pose as “international securities companies” and divide themselves into smaller units. They frequently relocate to avoid detection by authorities. Police said the networks primarily target victims abroad and intentionally avoid defrauding Vietnamese citizens, which investigators believe is an effort to reduce the likelihood of criminal prosecution within Vietnam.
Authorities specifically urged landlords who lease properties to foreign tenants to monitor for unusual behavior and report suspicious individuals or activities promptly. Public cooperation is essential as law enforcement agencies seek to disrupt organized cybercrime networks that are adapting quickly to enforcement efforts across the region.
Police say many of the schemes target victims overseas rather than Vietnamese citizens in an effort to avoid domestic prosecution
