Vietnam police alert fraud schemes targeting criminal record certificate applicants

The Hanoi police department warned that a growing number of fraudsters are exploiting the rising demand for the criminal‑record certificate (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp). Scammers impersonate police officers, provincial officials, postal workers or so‑called service “brokers”, use fake websites, social‑media fan pages and even AI‑generated voice or video to gain the trust of applicants. Victims are asked to pay processing, shipping or “expedited” fees via bank transfers or to install fake verification apps. Some schemes also offer forged certificates, exposing recipients to legal risk. Those trapped often lose personal data such as ID numbers, photos and bank details, and suffer financial losses ranging from tens to hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong. Police urge anyone suspecting a scam to report it promptly and advise the public to verify official channels before making payments. The warning comes as a revised Law on Criminal‑record Certificates, passed in December 2025, takes effect on 1 July 2026, tightening rules on the issuance and use of these documents.