Vietnam police warn of AI deepfake video and Zalo impersonation scams

Police in several Vietnamese provinces have issued alerts about sophisticated fraud schemes that use artificial‑intelligence generated deepfake videos and Zalo messaging to deceive residents. In Dong Thap, authorities described how fraudsters create realistic video or voice fabrications of friends, family members, or officials and urge victims to transfer money urgently. In Lang Son, police highlighted a separate tactic in which callers pose as police or government officers, claim problems with children’s VNeID electronic IDs, and send malicious links that install malware capable of stealing OTP codes and banking credentials.

The warnings stress that police never request personal identification numbers, passwords, or OTPs by phone or chat, and they never ask citizens to download applications from unknown links. Victims are advised to verify any financial request by calling known numbers, avoid sharing personal data, and report suspicious contacts to the nearest police station. The advisories aim to curb financial losses and protect the public from increasingly high‑tech fraud.

Authorities also urge the public to limit the amount of personal media posted online, as such content can be harvested to create deepfakes. Prompt reporting and careful verification are presented as the primary defenses against these scams.