Dak Lak Police warn of rising zero-dong gift scams

Dak Lak Provincial Police have issued a warning regarding a resurgence of sophisticated “zero-dong gift” scams designed to steal personal information and assets. These fraudulent schemes exploit the desire for free incentives to build trust with victims.

In a recent criminal case, the Dak Lak Provincial People's Court held a trial for H Nguyen Nie Kdam and 12 accomplices for fraudulent appropriation of property. Investigators found the group impersonated TikTok customer service representatives, using internet-based calling software to contact citizens with offers of free gifts or customer appreciation rewards.

Once trust was established, victims were directed to connect with scammers via Zalo to participate in purported e-commerce tasks promising high commissions. After initially receiving small payouts to build credibility, victims were coerced into transferring larger sums under the guise of system errors or account locks. Once the victims could no longer pay, the perpetrators severed contact.

Authorities also noted a variation where scammers send unsolicited packages to homes, labeled as “zero-dong gifts” or “customer appreciation gifts,” which often contain low-value items used as a pretext for further deception.