Taking advantage of a young woman’s gullibility, a man in Hanoi led her to believe he was a “witch doctor,” scamming her out of money and tricking the victim into having sex with him twice.

Police officers in Hoang Mai District in Hanoi said on Tuesday they had taken into custody Nguyen Manh Quan, 33, for investigation into allegations of fraud and appropriation of property.

Quan hails from the northern mountainous province of Phu Tho.

According to a preliminary investigation, Quan got to know L., 20, via social media as they were both members of a Vietnamese astrology group on Facebook.

Quan found that L. often shared her unusual physical and mental phenomena with members of the group, describing that her facial color would change every hour and that she would often experience mood swings throughout the day.

Quan came up with the idea to deceive L. when she asked for help in the online forum.

Quan got in touch with L., introducing himself as a powerful “witch doctor” with the ability to use mantras to help her overcome her current troublesome situation.

He also told the victim he knew how to draw up anyone’s horoscope.

Quan said L. had a predestined love and was being followed by the souls of the dead which had a negative effect on her life, and that the only way out of the situation was to make offerings.

Concerned for her well-being, L. wired Quan VND2 million (US$85) to conduct the ritual.

Claiming the initial ritual had been unsuccessful, Quan pressed L. to transfer money to him several times afterward, totaling almost VND70 million ($3,000).

Quan also threatened L. that the only way to get rid of the evil souls was for her to have sex with a witch doctor.

The gullible woman ended up forced to have sex with Quan two times.

On May 7, when Quan repeated his demand for a sum of VND15 million ($645) and asked to have sex with her once more, the victim finally had enough and reported the case to the police.

Officers took custody of the self-professed “witch doctor” on the evening of the same day when he came to an appointment with L. to get the money.

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