Vietnam police issue warnings on rising cybercrime and data theft

Vietnamese police authorities have issued multiple warnings regarding escalating cybercrime and personal data protection. Under Decree No. 330/2026/NĐ-CP, individuals face severe penalties for violating cybersecurity laws, including fines up to 3 billion VND for the illegal sale of personal data and up to 25 million VND for unauthorized disclosure of others' information.

Law enforcement agencies in provinces such as Quang Ninh, Lai Chau, Dong Thap, and Ca Mau have identified several common fraudulent tactics. These include criminals impersonating telecommunications staff from providers like Viettel, Vinaphone, and MobiFone to request information for “subscriber standardization,” and individuals posing as police or judicial officials to demand money for fake investigations.

Other highlighted risks include the use of malicious AI trends to harvest biometric facial data, the dangers of using unsecured public WiFi for financial transactions, and social media account hacking to solicit money from contacts. Authorities advise citizens to never share OTP codes, avoid clicking suspicious links, and verify all requests through official channels.