Vietnam

By Uzair Adam Imam

Vietnamese authorities have apprehended 20 individuals accused of orchestrating a widespread scheme to steal and commandeer tens of thousands of Facebook accounts, both domestically and internationally, reports state media. 

The operation yielded a staggering profit of nearly $4 million.

The group stands accused of creating and disseminating malware to seize control of over 25,000 high-value business accounts, as detailed by VNExpress. 

Cybersecurity police conducted raids across key locations, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Nam Dinh province, throughout April, resulting in the arrests.

The alleged mastermind, 31-year-old Dang Dinh Son, purportedly procured a malware source worth $1,200 to pilfer Facebook user credentials. 

According to state media, Son, who hails from Nam Dinh province, reportedly utilized this malicious software to hijack two popular Facebook fan pages associated with photo editing platforms: “Art Bay AI” and “Evoto Studio.”

Their modus operandi involved enticing Facebook users to download an application embedded with malware, subsequently compromising their devices. 

The stolen data was then funnelled to a server controlled by Son, who distributed it to five Telegram groups, facilitating the hijacking of user accounts by his accomplices.

The cybercrime syndicate profited by selling high-value Facebook accounts, while lower-value accounts were exploited for advertising purposes on e-commerce platforms, generating significant revenue. 

It’s reported that the accused collectively amassed $3.8 million from their illicit activities.

According to Statista, Vietnam ranked seventh globally in terms of Facebook users as of April, boasting a user base of 75.3 million.