Online scams: Don't fall for them!
Authorities have repeatedly warned, continuously detected, and prevented numerous cases, yet many people still fall victim to scams involving the misappropriation of assets through bank transfers. This situation demands stricter measures to ensure financial security and increased public awareness of the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by criminals.
Financial scams are "flourishing".
The situation of people being scammed and having their assets stolen by individuals impersonating official agencies such as the police, judicial bodies, and vehicle registration officials continues to be complex. Most victims believe they are dealing with official agencies, or are driven to a state of fear that prevents them from thinking clearly. However, thanks to the decisive and timely intervention of the police force and the cooperation of banks, many cases have been detected and prevented before the money falls into the hands of the perpetrators.
In Nghe An province, the police force has repeatedly intervened and prevented large-scale fraud cases. Specifically, on November 16, 2025, the Dong Loc commune police prevented Mr. NHQ (born in 1948) from transferring 300 million VND at the request of individuals posing as police officers. These individuals falsely informed Mr. Q. that he was involved in major drug cases and money laundering rings. Fortunately, upon receiving the information, the Dong Loc commune police officers quickly approached the victim, reassured him, and explained the situation to prevent him from transferring the money.
Previously, on October 30, 2025, the Quỳnh Tam Commune Police successfully prevented Ms. NTY from transferring 100 million VND. The perpetrators impersonated a Colonel from the Hanoi City Police, informing Ms. Y. that she was involved in a drug and money laundering case. Notably, they staged a scene of an investigation, using a video call with a fake interrogation room backdrop and police insignia to intimidate the victim. Thanks to a bank employee noticing the unusual activity and immediately reporting it to the commune police, the authorities arrived promptly and reassured Ms. Y.
The above situations are just a small fraction of the hundreds of cases discovered and prevented by police forces nationwide each year. The common thread is that victims are often pushed into a state of panic or manipulated by the perpetrators' deliberate schemes. They often impersonate high-ranking legal agencies such as the police, prosecutor's office, or court, or impersonate postal or bank employees. Then, through threats, sending forged documents, or fabricating "under investigation" cases, they demand money transfers for "verification purposes." The scammers utilize technology to simulate video calls and create fake documents with authentic-looking seals and logos. In some cases, the scammers even take control of the victim's phone to transfer money themselves. Particularly, the desire to "get it over with quickly," reluctance to contact the police, or inability to distinguish proper procedures makes many people easily comply with the scammers' demands.
Although scams impersonating government agencies continue, cybercriminals are constantly developing new scenarios, targeting a wider range of individuals and psychologies.
One common tactic nowadays is""Investment scams promising exorbitant profits." These scammers set up fake trading platforms or investment apps (forex, cryptocurrencies), using images of experts to entice customers. They promise high initial returns to trick victims into depositing more money. Once a large sum has been deposited, the platform disappears or provides technical excuses to prevent withdrawals, resulting in total loss.
Another scam involves "Recruiting collaborators for easy work with high pay" via social media, targeting students or those looking to earn extra income. The scammers require collaborators to perform simple tasks such as placing fake orders, promising high commissions. However, to start the work, victims must deposit a small amount of money (a security deposit or order deposit). After receiving the money, the scammers block all communication.
In particular, the "Bank SMS/Email Scam" remains a constant threat. Scammers send fake messages or emails, notifying users that their accounts have been locked or that there are unusual transactions, along with a fake link to the bank's portal. If users are not vigilant and enter their login information or OTP code, the scammers will gain access and execute money transfer orders themselves. These scams clearly demonstrate that every citizen should absolutely not provide their OTP code or bank information to anyone.
Raising awareness about financial security.
In reality, in many scams, victims often panic and lose their composure, leading to a failure to recognize the perpetrators' tactics. This is precisely the "weakness" that high-tech criminals thoroughly exploit.
The top priority solution right now is to intensify the dissemination of knowledge on preventing financial fraud in a comprehensive, continuous, and targeted manner, especially for the elderly and those with limited access to technology. Local police forces also need to maintain and expand rapid warning channels through social media, online portals, public address systems, and leaflets.
The banking system needs to continue upgrading its authentication measures to minimize transaction risks, such as strengthening security, alerting to unusual signs like sudden large-scale transactions, etc. In particular, it is necessary to raise awareness among bank employees about risk detection skills and emergency coordination procedures with the police when encountering suspicious cases of unusually large money transfers.
At the individual level, every citizen needs to proactively equip themselves with basic but crucial skills in preventing financial fraud: Absolutely do not transfer money at the request of any organization over the phone, especially when the content relates to the law or is threatening; Do not provide OTP codes or bank information to anyone; Always carefully check the recipient's information before transacting, especially with large sums of money.
In the context of increasingly sophisticated financial fraud, the repeated successful interceptions of suspicious transfers by the police and banking system demonstrate the proactive, responsible, and effective nature of the current financial security defense system. However, relying solely on authorities is insufficient. Each citizen needs to build a "security shield" for themselves, their loved ones, and their community by raising awareness and being vigilant in every transaction.