Vietnamese Woman Arrested in Thailand Over Alleged $300M Crypto Scam

Ngo Thi Theu, a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman, was apprehended in Thailand last Friday in connection with a sprawling cryptocurrency fraud scheme. Authorities allege her operation duped 2,600 victims out of $300 million through fake crypto and forex investment platforms promising unrealistic 20-30% monthly returns.

The suspect evaded capture until Thai authorities acted on an Interpol red notice, arresting her at a Bangkok hotel. Investigators describe a sophisticated network involving 35 officials and over 1,000 employees across 44 Vietnamese call centers.

Vietnam’s crypto adoption rate of 21.2% among its 100 million population creates fertile ground for such scams. The case highlights the dark underbelly of Southeast Asia’s crypto boom, where regulatory gaps meet enthusiastic retail participation.