According to the police in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the District 10 police have arrested and detained Wu CongMing (born in 1968, Chinese nationality, Vietnamese name Ngô Thông Minh), Thôi Vĩ Quốc (also known as Tài Mài, born in 1988, residing in District 8, ethnic Chinese Vietnamese) and Phùng Lạc Tòng (born in 1987, residing in District 10, ethnic Chinese Vietnamese). The three individuals are charged with "unauthorized illegal intrusion into others' computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic devices."
Previously, the Ho Chi Minh City police discovered that foreigners and Vietnamese were colluding to use fake base stations (BTS fake devices) to infiltrate public telecommunications networks and send fraudulent messages, prompting a focused investigation.
Upon investigation, the Ho Chi Minh City police determined that from June 2024, two unidentified foreigners came to Vietnam, met with Wu CongMing, and stated they needed someone to drive a vehicle carrying the fake base station around the streets to send fraudulent messages.
These individuals asked Wu CongMing to find and hire a driver capable of driving the vehicle on the road with the equipment to complete the aforementioned task. They also offered to provide the equipment and pay Wu CongMing for his services.
Wu CongMing contacted his friend in Vietnam, Thôi Vĩ Quốc, who then introduced him to Phùng Lạc Tòng. Subsequently, the three of them and the two foreigners formed a chat group.
After planning, at the end of July, the two foreigners brought the fake base station equipment to Wu CongMing's residence. From July 26 to August 2, Phùng Lạc Tòng drove multiple routes daily, operating the fake base station to publish illegal information.
On the morning of August 2, while Phùng Lạc Tòng was driving with the fake base station in District 10, the police discovered him. Subsequently, the police took Phùng Lạc Tòng, the related vehicle, and equipment to the police station.
Upon investigation, the Ho Chi Minh City police found that Wu CongMing and the other two individuals assisted unidentified foreigners in using the fake base station to interfere with the regular base station's information transmission, causing many mobile phones to malfunction and causing losses to individuals and network operators. Their criminal actions were organized and planned, and they knowingly used the fake base station to send fraudulent messages in violation of Vietnamese laws and regulations.
At the police station, all three admitted to their crimes. The case is currently under further investigation.
