Veterans targeted in financial scams Many veterans and elderly in the central region have been tricked into buying overly expensive items after being invited to free tours.     Le Thi Phien doesn't dare to use the Himalayan rock salt block Le Thi Phien from Quang Tri Province said she agreed to participate in a free tour to Hue on August 11. They were only sent to free zones at museums for about 30 minutes. After that, they were transferred to a building on Nguyen Sinh Cung Street where a group of sellers advertised their products including electric cookers, anti-bug spray and rock salt. The sellers said those products were made by disabled people so many veterans bought at least one item for support. Phien said she didn't bring enough cash to buy a VND1.9m (USD82) multi-purpose cooker. But when she told the sellers that she wouldn't buy it anymore, the sellers didn't accept and asked other people to lend her money. In the end, they were given a simple meal and sent home. Veteran Nguyen Duy Tung from Ha Tinh Province also had a similar trip to Nghe An Province. He bought a Himalayan rock salt block at the price of VND1.25m (USD54). However, once he got home, his nephew said the block actually only cost VND600,000 to VND700,000. Tung tried to call the seller and was told that the cheap ones were substandard. However, another supplier in HCM City confirmed the prices are only VND590,000 (USD25) to VND690,000 depending on the type of the rock. According to them, only the boxes that made from expensive woods with intricate carvings can cost more than VND1m. Tung said his box was plain. Nguyen Viet Dung, chairman of Veteran Association in Nghi Xuan District, said after receiving the news about free tours, they had suspected that this might be a fraud but the firm said this was their advertising method. The association also cautioned their members to be careful before buying. Hundreds of veterans in Trung Son, Gio An, Gio Hai communes and Gio Linh Town in Quang Tri have been tricked. Hoang Van Thanh, chairman of Veteran Association in Quang Tri said 500 veterans in Dong Ha City alone were scammed into buying products on the tour. Thanh said they were reviewing the total number of veterans and would ask the authorities to investigate the case. DTinews