Nguyễn Thị Chức (first, left) talks to reporters about her case. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG NGÃI — About 100 residents of Nghĩa An Commune, Quảng Ngãi City the central province of Quảng Ngãi, are seeking assistance from authorities after being scammed out of VNĐ4.5 billion (US$176,140) when registering to work abroad.

Nguyễn Thị Chức, 41, residing in Phổ Trường Hamlet, Nghĩa An Commune, said that between March and June 2023, she and her husband borrowed VNĐ100 million ($3,921) from their relatives to give to a local woman named T.T.T., residing in the same commune, so that the woman would help them go to South Korea for work.

Chức said via Facebook, she knew that T.T.G, a fellow villager working in South Korea, was recruiting individuals interested in working in South Korea for a period of six months.

After exchanging messages, G. told Chức that there would be a fee of VNĐ50 million ($1,959) for a labour contract.

Chức would receive a monthly salary equal to VNĐ25 million ($980) when she worked in South Korea.

If Chức agreed, she had to pay in advance of VNĐ35 million ($1,372) for G.’s younger sister named T.T.T. for visa processing.

Once the paperwork was completed, Chức had to pay the remaining amount of VNĐ15 million ($588).

G. also told Chức that Chức was scheduled to go to South Korea in May or June 2023.

Chức agreed, and she borrowed VNĐ70 million ($2,742) to give to T. along with the necessary documents for visa processing for Chức and her husband, but they had to wait a long time with no updates.

Then Chức became worried and continuously called T.

After numerous promises, in June 2023, T. provided Chức with a foreign-language document to fill in and urged her to pay the full amount of money.

Chức continued to give an additional VNĐ30 million ($1,176) to T., however, she was told to wait still without knowing the exact time she would go abroad.

Similarly, Đinh Văn Chu, 35, and Lê Thị Bé Sương, 33, from Tân Thạnh Hamlet, Nghĩa An Commune, also gave VNĐ55 million ($2,156) to T. and were left waiting without any precise information on when they would depart.

After falling into the trap of G. and T., the residents of the commune collectively submitted a petition to the local authorities, hoping that the authorities would intervene so that they could get their money back.

Phạm Thị Công, Chairwoman of Nghĩa An Commune People's Committee, said at the end of August 2023, said they received a petition from a group of residents accusing T. of deceiving them into giving money to go to work in South Korea, and they already directed the local police to investigate the case.

However, due to the large number of victims and the substantial amount of money involved, the case was transferred to the provincial police, she said.

Every year, the local authorities widely to residents about the local policy of sending labourers to work abroad, warning them to stay on guard and avoid scams.

However, many still place their trust on acquaintances and relatives and unfortunately ended up defrauded, she said.— VNS