300 Central Highlands residents lose $8.2 mln in dating app scam

More than 300 people in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak have lost more than VND200 billion ($8.2 million) after being cheated on joining dating apps, local police say.

Vu Duy Son, a 26-year-old Hanoi resident who was running apps called “Hen ho” (dating) and "Ky nu” (Courtesan), was arrested Tuesday for misappropriation of property.

A resident of Buon Ma Thuot in Dak Lak reported to authorities that he had been swindled out of over VND1 billion ($41,000) after clicking on a link to find a partner on the "Ky nu” dating app.

He said he was instructed by online customer service staff to transfer money into an account for the dating service. They said the money would be returned to him with interest.

The man first transferred VND1 million ($41), and the money was returned to him with interest. Gradually, he sent over VND1 billion into the account in order to get greater returns, but the money was not returned.

Police said Son was a member of the gang that cheated peole via the dating apps. He told the police that in October 2022, he met Minh and Hung, living in Dubai, through social networks. Son was hired by Minh to receive money sent by users of the two dating apps and paid VND12 million ($492) per month. All contact was made through the Telegram app.

According to investigators, Minh gave Son six mobile phones and 31 bank accounts. Every day, through the two apps, gang members enticed users to send more money to gain VIP status. They convinced users that the more money they sent, the more money they would receive in return.

Since December 2022, Son had helped Minh’s gang collect over VND200 billion ($8.2 million) from more than 300 victims. He himself pocketed VND300 million ($12,300).

The case is being investigated further, police said.