Fake Tycoon Accused of Targeting Hundreds in Vietnam Dating Scam

Ho Chi Minh City police detained Truong Nhat Phuong, 34, on a property-theft charge after a woman reported that a man she met online disappeared from a hotel with her iPhone 16. Investigators allege that the incident was part of a years-long scheme in which Phuong posed as a wealthy businessman, promised high-value sugar arrangements and used sensitive recordings to discourage complaints. Police say Phuong used Tinder, Bumble, Viber and Telegram and presented himself as an event manager, property entrepreneur or wealthy client.

Multiple fake accounts interacted in chat groups to make his persona appear credible. Victims were promised VND40 to 50 million (about US$1,600 to 2,000) after several meetings. At meetings he allegedly asked women to record intimate videos, then stole phones or other property. Investigators believe the recordings created leverage and shame that reduced reporting. Police said he admitted contacting around 1,200 people since 2020 and acting against hundreds of women. Seven allegedly stolen iPhones were seized after his arrest; authorities asked additional victims to come forward.

According to police, the alleged scheme did not rely on one trick. It combined a fabricated identity, supporting fake accounts, delayed payment, hotel meetings, theft and the threat of intimate recordings. Identity checks alone offer limited protection once a conversation moves to private groups and someone asks to record or handle a device. The scale, confession and conduct are reported from the police investigation. A charge and police account are not a conviction, and the final victim count may change as the case proceeds.