Vietnam police warn of rising impersonation and cyber scams

Police authorities in Vietnam are issuing urgent warnings regarding a rise in sophisticated cyber scams involving impersonation. Fraudsters are increasingly posing as traffic police, government officials, tax officers, or bank employees to deceive citizens via Zalo, Facebook, and SMS.

Common tactics include sending fake notifications about traffic violations or unpaid fines, accompanied by malicious links designed to look like official government portals. Once victims click these links, criminals attempt to steal personal information, bank account details, passwords, and OTP codes, or trick users into installing unauthorized applications to gain control of their devices.

In one specific incident in Phu Tho province, a resident was targeted by a scammer posing as a local land management official. The perpetrator used the victim's personal information to secure an online loan and then staged a fake “accidental transfer” to trick the victim into sending money back.

Authorities advise the public to remain vigilant, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and never provide sensitive banking information or OTPs to unverified sources. Citizens who fall victim to these scams are urged to report immediately to the nearest police station and provide transaction statements and communication logs to assist in investigations.