Vietnam police crack down on bank account trading and biometric fraud

banking fraud biometric authentication cybercrime bank account trading identity theft

Vietnamese authorities are intensifying efforts to combat high-tech financial crimes involving the illegal sale and use of bank accounts. In Thanh Hoa province, police have prosecuted 18 individuals for crimes related to identity and electronic authentication. These criminals reportedly used malicious software to manipulate camera data, allowing them to bypass biometric facial recognition systems during banking transactions. Investigations revealed that groups had purchased over 1,000 bank accounts to facilitate illegal activities, including online gambling.

In Can Tho, police are investigating a case where an individual sold a bank account that recorded transactions exceeding 100 billion VND in 2025. Similar patterns of account trading have been noted, where accounts are sold to facilitate money laundering and fraud.

To mitigate these risks, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank of Vietnam have cleaned over 107.9 million personal customer data records. The implementation of biometric authentication for transactions over 10 million VND has contributed to a 52% decrease in fraudulent crimes in 2025 compared to 2024. Since June, authorities have frozen or locked more than 400 accounts suspected of fraud. Law enforcement continues to warn citizens against sharing account information, OTP codes, or installing unverified applications that may grant remote control to criminals.

Entities

Cần Thơ Police · Hưng Yên Provincial Police · Lam Dong Provincial Police · MBBank · Ministry of Public Security · State Bank of Vietnam · Thanh Hóa Province Police · Thanh Hóa Provincial Police · Vietnam

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Between July 1, 2024, and September 27, 2026, 18 individuals were prosecuted in Thanh Hoa province for crimes related to identity and electronic authentication. soha.vn · reatimes.vn · cafebiz.vn
[○ 1 SOURCE] Over 107.9 million personal customer data records have been cleaned through cooperation between the Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank of Vietnam. vtv.vn
[● 3 SOURCES] Criminals used malicious software to manipulate camera data to bypass biometric facial recognition for banking transactions. soha.vn · cafebiz.vn
[○ 1 SOURCE] Since June, more than 400 accounts suspected of fraud have been frozen or locked. vtv.vn
[○ 1 SOURCE] Fraudulent crimes decreased by 52% in 2025 compared to 2024. vtv.vn
[● 2 SOURCES] Criminal groups purchased more than 1,000 bank accounts to facilitate illegal transactions. cafebiz.vn · soha.vn
[● 2 SOURCES] A man in Can Tho sold his bank account, which recorded transactions totaling over 100 billion VND in 2025. thanhnien.vn