WINONA, Minn. — Two foreign exchange students at Winona State University have been named as suspects in connection with a cyber crime ring based in Vietnam. The students allegedly used stolen identities to open dozens of bank accounts, as well as eBay and PayPal accounts that were used to defraud large companies.
Tram Vo and Khoi Van collected nearly $1.25 million in the scam, much of which was wired to accounts in Vietnam and Canada, the Star Tribune reports.
Participants in the crime ring sell popular merchandise at discounted prices through sites like eBay. They fill the orders by purchasing the merchandise at full price through legitimate venders, using stolen financial information. When the victim of identity theft disputes the charges, the vendor is forced to reimburse them.
Vo and Van are in the country on F1 visas, which allow them to study at the university, but do not allow them to hold jobs outside of it. Immigration officials declined to comment on the case, as the investigation is ongoing.
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