Criminals make extensive use of artificial intelligence, fake social media accounts and impersonation schemes to deceive victims, said Colonel Nguyen Thanh Ha, deputy head of the Criminal Police Department.

One of the most common methods involves posing as police officers, prosecutors or court officials. Victims are contacted by phone or video calls and threatened with legal action, then instructed to transfer money for “verification” or to resolve alleged cases. In many instances, scammers manipulate victims into revealing personal information, banking details or social media accounts, which are later used to extort money from relatives.

The enormous profits and relatively low risks have driven the rapid expansion of organised scam networks operating across borders, said Ha, adding many groups have established large-scale scam centres in parts of Southeast Asia where law enforcement oversight is weaker.

Vietnam’s geographical proximity to several of these areas has made it a target for labour recruitment and money laundering linked to such operations, said the police officer.

On the victim side, greed and carelessness play a significant role. Promises of “easy jobs with high pay” along with the habit of oversharing personal data and trusting individuals claiming to represent government agencies online, make many people vulnerable to scams.

Colonel Ha also pointed to shortcomings in state management, particularly in the oversight of phone numbers, internet services, bank accounts, e-wallets, and social media accounts. In addition, the technological capacity of officials involved in combating high-tech crime has not kept pace with rapid technological advancements, while equipment for prevention and investigation remains limited and outdated.

Pham Gia Bao, Deputy Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Department at the State Bank of Vietnam, advised the public never to click on links, download applications, or open attachments from unknown senders.

He also warned against befriending suspicious social media accounts and urged people to seek advice from knowledgeable individuals or local police if asked to open, rent, or sell bank accounts or SIM cards.

Bao underlined the need to update legal frameworks related to telecommunications, finance, virtual currencies, and digital assets, and to strengthen the use of technology in monitoring and preventing online fraud.

Ministry warns of rising online fraud

The E-commerce Development Centre (Ecomviet) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has issued a warning of the growing complexity of online fraud, emphasising that users will face two key threats - surveillance malware designed to steal information - and evolving online scams.