Online Romance Scam: Man Impersonates Doctor to Defraud Girlfriend of Over $37,000 USD
A man in Tây Ninh, Vietnam defrauded his girlfriend of approximately 937.5 million Vietnamese Dong by claiming his father had a serious illness requiring expensive treatment. He impersonated a doctor on TikTok and fabricated medical records and hospital images to support his false story. When the victim became suspicious and discovered the deception, she reported him to police.
Overview of the Case
A man and woman began dating in 2023. In July 2026, facing a need for funds to participate in online gambling, the man executed a premeditated fraud scheme against his girlfriend.
How the Scam Operated
Stage One: Exploiting a Fake Father's Illness
The perpetrator told his girlfriend that his father had contracted a serious illness requiring expensive medical treatment. To make this story credible, he employed the following tactics:
- Impersonation: Created a fake doctor account on TikTok
- Fabricated Medical Records: Wrote fictional conversations between himself (posing as a doctor) and a patient about the father's health condition
- Forged Documents: Downloaded images of hospital patients, intensive care units, and medical bills totaling billions of dong from the internet, then sent these to his girlfriend
Deceived by these forgeries, the woman transferred a total of 937.5 million dong (approximately 6.2 million yen or $37,000 USD) to him across multiple transactions.
Stage Two: The Fake Property Sale
After spending all the money on online gambling losses, the perpetrator fabricated a new story to keep his girlfriend's trust and promise repayment:
- Claimed he was selling a house worth 2.8 billion dong
- Created forged property purchase contracts
- Impersonated a buyer via Zalo to "confirm" the transaction was legitimate
How the Scam Was Discovered
When the woman repeatedly asked to meet the perpetrator's father, he continually refused with various excuses. Noticing these unnatural responses and other inconsistencies, she became suspicious and conducted her own investigation. Upon discovering the deception, she reported the case to police.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Rapid emotional bonding early in the relationship
- Repeated requests for financial assistance
- Professional opinions (medical, legal) presented through social media or third-party accounts
- Repeated postponement or refusal to meet family members or associates
- Contradictory or unverifiable explanations
Prevention Tips
- Verify the other person's identity through video calls
- For significant financial requests, independently verify facts through trusted sources
- For medical or health claims, have the person contact medical institutions directly for confirmation
- For important transactions like real estate deals, use official intermediaries
- If something feels off or contradictory, discuss it with someone you trust
Where to Report
If you believe you are a victim of romance scam fraud, contact your local police station to file a report and complaint.
Source: Techz