Hanoi Warns of Fraud Targeting Pensioners and Social Insurance Recipients

The Hanoi Public Administration Service Center issued a warning on July 20 about scammers posing as city officials and calling elderly pensioners and social‑insurance beneficiaries. The fraudsters ask victims to download a counterfeit application, provide one‑time passwords (OTPs) and personal data, and sometimes travel to local ward offices to complete a fake paperwork process.

A 71‑year‑old resident of the Đại Mỗ ward reported receiving such a call, being instructed to install the app and give his OTP. After contacting the centre, officials confirmed he was not on the list of people requiring additional documentation and identified the call as an attempt to steal personal information and assets. The centre emphasized that legitimate procedures never require the installation of unauthorized apps or the disclosure of OTPs, bank passwords or account numbers. It is coordinating with the city’s Social Insurance office, local wards and the post office to assist only those on the official list and to protect vulnerable groups such as the elderly and disabled.