Vietnamese police arrest crypto mining scammers, Springfield warns of ATM scams, Hong Kong busts AI scams#bitcoin

A week into 2025, police from across the country have arrested scammers running cryptocurrency schemes targeting hundreds of potential victims.

On January 5, Vietnamese police arrested four individuals involved in a cryptocurrency mining scam that stole VND4 billion ($157,300) from more than 200 victims, according to VnExpress.

The suspects, led by Tran Minh Quang, allegedly developed a fraudulent cryptocurrency mining website called BitMiner, with a Singapore domain. The group advertised itself as a Dubai-based cryptocurrency mining company and offered unrealistic investment returns.

The Springfield, Massachusetts, police department recently warned citizens about a surge in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency scams. While the warning noted that scammers use a variety of techniques, it pointed to cryptocurrency ATM scams:

“The scams come in many forms, but one in particular directs a person to a cryptocurrency machine to enter money and send it to the scammer. If you receive a phone call from someone demanding payment in cryptocurrency or Bitcoin, please hang up.”

In addition to cryptocurrency scams, authorities are also actively cracking down on AI-related crimes involving deepfakes.

On January 5, Hong Kong police arrested a group of 31 scammers - mostly university students - who defrauded victims from different countries out of HK$34 million (US$4.37 million) using fake AI techniques.

According to a report by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), the network had been operating for more than a year, and the victims were mostly from outside Hong Kong, including Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States.

Fake images generated by artificial intelligence are being used by scammers in Hong Kong. Source: RTHK

The translated version of a statement issued by Fong Bui Kai, Superintendent of the Commercial Crimes Bureau, read:

“They (scammers) also use new technology, such as AI face swapping, [to] pretend to be some handsome ladies and gentlemen to attract potential victims, gain their trust and develop romantic relationships in order to initiate romance scams.”
Hong Kong authorities raided two locations and seized HK$10 million in cash, luxury handbags and watches.

While five criminals were charged with conspiracy to defraud, others were released on bail.$BTC