News

Maid Steals Employer’s Credit Card Info To Repay Debts, Turns Herself In 3 Days Later

Maid uses employer’s credit card to pay her debt


Every employer of a domestic helper wants to find a suitable worker and keep them for a long period of time. However, as maids are increasingly becoming an integral part of many Vietnamese households, their integrity is an uppermost issue in employers’ minds.

3 months into helping out at her Hanoi employer’s home, a 34-year-old maid did the unthinkable. 

She secretly gathered details of her employer’s credit card information, bank account number, and social security number. After successfully signing into her boss’ bank account, she transferred VND21,000,000 (~USD912.71) to her debtor.    


She stole her employer’s credit card information



Image adapted from: Cong An

In March 2021, 34-year-old Cao Thi Minh Phuong started working in a household in Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, as a domestic worker.

Deep in debt at the moment, Phuong came up with the idea of robbing valuables from her boss.

During her stay in the family, she tried to sign into a credit card assigned to her employer by collecting essential information such as the social security number, bank account number, birth dates, and PINs. 


The helper stole her employer’s credit card information
Image credit: Pexels/Mikhail Nilov

There was a high chance that she also remembered her employer’s smartphone passcode, if there was any, so that she could obtain the one-time password sent via SMS when making any transactions with the account.

On 11th June, Phuong accessed her boss’ credit account and transferred VND21,000,000 (~USD912.71) into her debtor’s bank account. 


Employer is alerted and contacts police about the shady transfer



Image credit: Pexels/Mikhail Nilov

Surprisingly, someone who exerted that much effort in remembering her employer’s credit account information couldn’t have thought that every card transaction results in alerts via SMS or emails.

After receiving alerts from her card issuer about a transfer that she didn’t initiate, Phuong’s employer contacted the police immediately.

Knowing that she couldn’t get away with her crime, Phuong went to the police station and turned herself in on 14th June. 


Trust, but verify


When we welcome a new member into our home, we should keep the communication line open and have faith in their goodwill. 

Though we trust, we still need to verify.

If you think that a case of dishonest misappropriation of assets occurs in your living environment, don’t jump the gun to condemn anyone but conduct a thorough investigation first.

On top of that, make sure you have a clear conversation with your helper at the job interview and sort out any complexities before employing their service.

Also check out:


Cover image adapted from: Cong An and Pexels/Mikhail Nilov

Enjoying The Smart Local Vietnam? Follow us on Facebook, Telegram, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more stories like this. If you have a story to share, email us at pressvn@thesmartlocal.com. 

Josee Ng

Recent Posts

6 Things To Do In Saigon In February 2023: Anime Convention, Silk Painting Exhibition, & A Woodcut Workshop

Now that Tết is over, Saigon is now a bustling hub of activity once again.…

February 3, 2023

9 Things To Do In Hanoi For Tết 2023 – Fireworks, Flower Shopping, And Traditional Festivals

If you're in Hanoi this Tết, here are some activities you can look into to…

January 17, 2023

6 Gorgeous Vietnamese Calendars for 2023: From Dancing Cats, Trippy Cyberpunk To Giant Towels

Vietnamese Calendars for 2023 - made with love by local craftsmen Now that the new…

January 13, 2023

Mầm Coffee Tea Beer, Saigon: Country-Style Cafe With Nostalgic Decor And Flowing River

Mầm coffee tea beer is a perfect getaway for those who are tired of the…

January 5, 2023

Ante Café – An European-Style Café In Da Nang For A Cozy Drink & Photo Session With Friends

With a chic decor featuring wooden floors, raw brick walls, and European-style furniture, Ante Cafe…

January 4, 2023

9 Things To Do In Saigon – From Visiting A Floating Temple To Munching On Local Comfort Food

Saigon features some of the best of what Vietnam has to offer. If you're at…

January 4, 2023