Student-targeted fraud in Vietnam

Fraudulent schemes targeting students in Vietnam have evolved from scholarship-based scams to deceptive job recruitment tactics.

Initially, criminals utilized professional-looking websites and social media pages to impersonate universities and educational consultants. These actors lured victims with promises of “full scholarships” or “no exam required” opportunities, subsequently demanding payments for processing, visa, or insurance fees. These scams also focused on collecting sensitive personal data, such as academic transcripts and passport details, for identity theft.

More recently, scammers have shifted toward posing as recruiters for online tutoring positions on platforms like Facebook. In these instances, victims are tricked into providing bank details or transferring money, often resulting in them being burdened with high-interest credit card debt or loans registered in their names. Authorities in Hanoi and Da Nang have issued warnings advising the public to avoid sharing sensitive information or paying upfront fees to unverified entities.