Woman’s insurance scam costs her a hand and a foot

A WOMAN in Vietnam persuaded a friend to cut off her hand and foot so she could pretend to have been hit by a train in an elaborate insurance scam.

In May, the 30-year-old woman, identified only as Ly Thi N, was found near a railway level crossing in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. A man called Doan Van D, had called an ambulance, saying he had found the injured woman, who he claimed was a stranger, by chance.

But detectives became suspicious of the man’s story, especially when they looked into Ly Thi N’s personal affairs.

The Thanhien news website said her business was struggling and she was short of cash before the “accident”.

She eventually confessed to police that she had paid Doan Van D 50 million dong (R21 525) to cut off the two limbs and play along with her ruse.

Ly Thi N believed she stood to gain R2.134 million by claiming on her health insurance.

The case has led to a heated debate on social media in Vietnam.

Facebook user Ly Phan wrote: “A very typical case of insurance fraud. The kind of joke that only happens in Vietnam. Lost 50 million, one hand, one leg, and now you are at risk to go to jail. No benefit at all.”

Hoa Nguyen wrote: “How destitute must a person be to do such a thing?” – Daily Mail