Vietnam Police Warn of Facebook 'White Tick' Scams and Online Trafficking

Meta's Facebook platform has begun rolling out a free verification badge called “Tick trắng” (white tick) for personal accounts aged 18 and over. The badge is granted after an AI‑driven selfie video check and does not require a subscription, unlike the paid “Meta Verified” service. Vietnamese police in Cà Mau province say scammers are exploiting the new feature by impersonating Facebook support, sending messages via Messenger, SMS or email that claim the user is eligible for the white tick and directing them to fake websites. Victims who log in on those sites have their account passwords, OTP codes and personal identification documents stolen and later sold.

The police also report a surge in offers for rapid “VIP” white‑tick activation that require payment; after the fee is paid the scammers disappear. In addition, authorities warn that Zalo, Facebook and other messaging apps are being used to lure job‑seekers with fake high‑pay offers, then trap them in human‑trafficking schemes. They advise users not to click unknown links, not to pay for verification services, and not to share identity documents, bank details or personal data with unverified contacts. Suspected cases should be reported to the nearest police station immediately.