Urgent warning: Sophisticated scams exploiting the trust of Buddhist followers are on the rise.
The police in Ha Nam province have issued a warning about a new form of online fraud. The perpetrators are exploiting people's faith in religion to solicit donations to help with the aftermath of the fire at Phat Quang Pagoda.
Specifically, these individuals created fake fan pages under the name "Phật Quang Pagoda" with an address in Du Nhan village, Thanh Phong commune, Thanh Liem district, Ha Nam province, and then posted information calling on Buddhists nationwide to contribute financially to support the restoration of the pagoda that burned down on January 20, 2024.
They instructed me to transfer money to a bank account under the name TRAN THANH TRUC, account number 0110699914, at VIKKI Bank, which is actually Dong A Bank.
Authorities investigating the activity history found that these fan pages had changed their names multiple times and frequently used paid advertising to increase their reach.
The content primarily revolved around appeals for charity aimed at building trust and tricking social media users into transferring money. The police in Ha Nam province determined this to be a fraudulent act intended to extort money.
This phenomenon is not unique to Ha Nam; similar cases have also appeared in Bac Giang. Following the fire at Lang Ve Pagoda in Tho Xuong Ward, Bac Giang City on February 10th, several individuals impersonated the abbot, posting photos of the burned-out area along with appeals for donations to restore the pagoda.
These pages quickly attracted attention and solicited money transfers to personal accounts. A typical fan page was "13 Hạnh Đầu Đà," which posted a call for donations to repair the Vẽ village temple, providing the account number of Nguyễn Thành Luân, account number 19074094467017.
Using real photos and impersonating reputable figures in the religious community led many people to believe them and send money.
The abbot of Vẽ village pagoda affirmed that the pagoda does not use social media and does not solicit online donations. The Bac Giang Provincial Police advised the community, especially Buddhist followers and officials, to be vigilant against fake content on social media.
When people notice any unusual activity related to donations, they should immediately report it to the nearest police station for timely action.