Fake website spreads news about banning Japanese civil servants from filling up with gas

A website impersonating an agency under the Hanoi Department of Justice posted an announcement 'banning all Hanoi civil servants from filling up gas at Japanese gas stations'.

A gas station of a Japanese company in Bac Thang Long Industrial Park, Hanoi. Photo: Tran Huan

On October 17, the High-Tech Crime Prevention Police Department (PC50, Hanoi Police) said that the unit discovered a website impersonating an agency under the Hanoi Department of Justice.

On October 11, this website published an article titled “Proposal to ban all Hanoi civil servants from filling up gas at Japanese gas stations.” The article was then shared and spread online, causing public confusion and affecting the reputation of the Hanoi Petroleum Business Association.

The fake article reads: "On the afternoon of October 11, the Hanoi People's Committee received a dispatch from the Hanoi Petroleum Business Association regarding the use of petroleum in the area. Accordingly, the Association requested the Hanoi People's Committee to issue a decision prohibiting officials, employees and civil servants in Hanoi from filling up with gasoline at the Japanese gas station Idemitsu Q8 (IQ8)."

The website registered the domain name and is located in the US, so authorities have not yet determined the information of the domain name owner or operator.

According to regulations, individuals and organizations will be fined from 20 to 30 million VND for violating the acts of providing false information, slander, distortion, or insulting the reputation of agencies, organizations, and the honor and dignity of individuals; and providing information that is not in line with the country's interests.

According to VNE