Illegal Bone Treatment Clinic Poses as Spa to Defraud Nearly 300 People in Vietnam

How the Scam Operated

A criminal group in Nghe An Province, Vietnam was arrested for operating an illegal bone and joint treatment clinic disguised as a licensed spa facility. The "Phuc Tam 8" center was registered as a beauty salon and spa but illegally provided orthopedic treatments with no medical basis or proper licensing.

Advertising and Recruitment Methods

• Posting images of purported medical staff and advanced equipment on social media
• Promoting a nonexistent "high-frequency wave therapy" treatment
• Using deceptive marketing claims such as "no surgery, no injections, no pain" and "95% cure rate"
• Using pre-written scripts to persuade patients to purchase treatment packages costing 3-30 million Vietnamese Dong
• Employing staff managed through Telegram groups to maintain anonymity and compartmentalize operations

How Victims Were Defrauded

• Patients were sold fake "nano-calcium injections" (5-10 million Dong per injection)
• Staff administered saline or placebo injections while providing massage to create an illusion of intensive treatment
• Multiple treatment packages were upsold aggressively during patient visits
• One documented case involved extracting 57 million Dong from a single patient
• Equipment consisted of used spa devices and ineffective electrical machines, fraudulently marketed as advanced medical technology

Warning Signs to Watch For

• Unverified medical credentials: Staff members lack documented medical qualifications or use aliases
• Unsubstantiated treatment claims: Promises of guaranteed or near-guaranteed cures with no scientific basis
• Lack of proper licensing: Facilities registered under deceptive names or without proper medical authorization
• Opaque pricing: Excessive costs with vague treatment descriptions or frequent additional charges
• Unknown treatment methods: Claims about treatments not recognized by established medical authorities
• Targeting vulnerable populations: Particularly aggressive marketing toward elderly persons or those with chronic conditions
• Pressure to pay upfront: Demands for large advance payments or cash-only transactions

Prevention Tips

1. Verify legitimacy: Always confirm that a medical facility holds proper government licenses and that practitioners have verifiable credentials
2. Consult established physicians: Seek a second opinion from a licensed doctor at a recognized hospital before undergoing any treatment
3. Involve family members: Discuss treatment plans with trusted family members, especially before making financial commitments
4. Request documentation: Obtain written information about treatment procedures, expected outcomes, and itemized costs
5. Avoid large upfront payments: Pay incrementally or use payment methods that offer consumer protection
6. Research the facility: Search online reviews and verify the facility's history through government health databases

Where to Report

• Local police department (Emergency: 113 in Vietnam)
• Provincial health authority for unlicensed medical practice
• Consumer protection agencies
• National anti-fraud hotlines