Vietnam police issue warnings on online marketplace and SMS scams

The police of Hưng Yên province warned that fraudsters are posting fake ads on social‑media groups and fanpages offering used items such as phones, computers, appliances, auto parts and motorbikes at prices as low as one‑third to half of new‑item prices. Victims are asked to pay a deposit or full amount in advance, after which the scammers block contact, delete the post and keep the money, deliver counterfeit or wrong items, or provide QR codes and links that install malware. The police advise shoppers to transact only with verified accounts, avoid advance payments, never click unknown links or scan suspicious QR codes, and report any dubious posts.

Police in Cà Mau province issued a similar alert after a resident received an SMS that pretended to be from VPBank, urging the user to change "Diamond points" via a website at "vpbank-diamond.com". The message, sent from a personal number, creates urgency and directs recipients to a fake site that captures banking credentials, OTPs and personal data. The authorities urge people not to follow unknown links, never share login details or OTPs, verify any bank communications through official apps or hotlines, and report phishing attempts to the police immediately.