Hanoi police have busted a criminal ring of Chinese and Japanese nationals who impersonated Japanese police officers to scam victims in Japan out of VND11 billion (US$420,000).
Authorities announced Tuesday that the group has been based in the Vietnamese capital since August 2025.
The suspects allegedly used scripted scenarios to pose as Japanese police officers, prosecutors and court officials.
A foreign member of a scam gang points at evidence seized by police in Hanoi. Photo by police |
They would call people in Japan, falsely claim to have found their lost identification documents and that their personal data showed they were involved in criminal activities and demand they cooperate with the “investigation” by transferring money in the form of Ethereum cryptocurrency to designated wallets.
Following reports of suspicious activity, immigration officers from the police department conducted simultaneous raids on the afternoon of Feb. 28 of four locations in the Ciputra urban area in Phu Thuong Ward, and an apartment at the Mipec complex on Xuan Thuy Street in Cau Giay Ward.
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Items used by a scam gang as seized by the police at an apartment in Hanoi, Feb. 28, 2026. Photo by Hanoi police |
They detained three Chinese nationals and four Japanese nationals suspected of running the operation.
A Chinese national identified only as Z.H. was determined to be the ringleader.
Officers seized evidence, including four Japanese police uniforms, 65 mobile phones, 19 tablets, three laptops, and 12 walkie-talkies.
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Fake Japanese police uniforms used by a scam gang in Hanoi. Photo by Hanoi police |
According to investigators, the foreign suspects exploited Vietnam’s open e-visa policies to enter the country legally, selecting Hanoi as a base for concealment.
Once established, they conspired to target foreign citizens, a crime police say has negatively impacted public security and the country’s image.
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