Vietnam Police Warn Against Buying or Renting Bank Accounts

The police have issued a warning that anyone whose name appears on a bank account is legally responsible for how the account is used. In recent months, the buying, selling, renting or lending of bank accounts has become widespread, with accounts frequently employed in online fraud, gambling, money‑laundering, high‑interest lending and illegal trade.

Under Decree No. 340/2025, which takes effect on 9 February 2026, the sale or rental of one to nine payment accounts can be fined 100–150 million VND, while ten or more accounts can incur fines of 150–200 million VND. Persons whose actions meet the criminal criteria may face up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 500 million VND.

Authorities advise the public to: refrain from buying, selling, renting or lending bank accounts; never share personal identification, phone numbers, OTP codes or banking passwords; avoid receiving or forwarding money for unknown parties; and report any suspicious offers to the nearest police station.