Chinese police repatriate key suspect in phishing and Trojan virus case from Vietnam

Chinese police have successfully repatriated a key suspect from Vietnam in a case involving phishing websites and the illegal use of the Silver Fox Trojan virus, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Monday.

Under the ministry's coordination, police from Shandong province dispatched a task force to Vietnam to take custody of the suspect, identified by the surname Pan. The case came to light in July 2025, when police in Zibo, Shandong, discovered that a local internet user, surnamed Yang, had allegedly built and maintained multiple phishing websites.

These websites were used to deceive users into downloading software installation packages bundled with the Silver Fox Trojan. This allowed the suspects to gain unauthorized control of victims' computers, steal personal information, and make illegal profits, according to the ministry.

Between July 2025 and May 2026, police conducted an in-depth investigation and launched several coordinated operations, dismantling multiple criminal groups linked to the case. Pan, identified as a principal suspect, fled overseas in August 2025. After continued efforts by Chinese authorities, Vietnamese police arrested Pan on June 4, with support from the Chinese embassy. Simultaneously, Chinese police conducted coordinated raids in Guangdong province and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, arresting 11 other suspects allegedly involved in the case. Pan was escorted back to China on the afternoon of June 6.

The successful arrest and repatriation demonstrate the firm resolve of Chinese public security authorities to combat crime and bring fugitives to justice, the ministry stated. Police will continue to strengthen international law enforcement cooperation and crack down on cybercrime, it added.