HCM City police break up large fake-diploma trading ring

On the night of January 12, HCM City police raided several houses in Go Vap District, HCM City and in Bien Hoa City of Dong Nai Province.

They detected hundreds of counterfeit diplomas and certificates of all types and many machines and devices used for the production of fake papers.

At least 13 people were arrested, including the ringleader named Pham Dang Thanh, 25, a native of Quang Ngai Province, who resides in District 1, HCM City. Nine of them are now in custody for investigation.

According to investigators, the network began operating in early 2014. The leader Thanh usually sought customers through the Internet, particularly his Facebook page, and made transactions online.

Other members in the ring made transactions with customers from HCM City’s neighboring provinces at coffee shops in the city. From August 2014, these members also sought customers online.

The fake documents were produced by a couple in the city of Bien Hoa, Dong Nai Province, named Chu Ngoc Trung, 33, and Nguyen Kieu Vang, 30, who also built their own network of distribution of fake papers.

Thanh and his accomplices bought the fake documents from Trung-Vang for VND2-4 million ($100-200) and sold them for VND5-9 million ($250-$450).

The price for a fake bachelor degree was VND5 million ($250) and VND7-9 million ($350-$450) for an M.A. or a Ph.D diploma.

They allegedly sold about 500-600 degrees of all kinds to customers throughout the country.

The police are continuing their investigation of the case.

Source: vietnamnet