As of the end of September 2024, the number of websites forging agencies and organizations to swindle people had reached 125,338, according to AIS.

This has not only caused big losses to victims but also affected the brands of the agencies and organizations.

In the first nine months of 2024, AIS’ technical system received 22,200 complaints from Vietnamese internet users about online fraud.

In addition to technical solutions, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) believes that disseminating information about the fraud, improving people’s awareness of risks on cyberspace and equipping people with anti-scam skills are important solutions to the problem.

Here are the three online scam tricks from October 7-13.

Illegal multi-level capital mobilization

According to AIS, Phu Yen Police have released a warning about criminals who try to swindle people through multi-level capital mobilization (purchase of shares, financial investment, cryptocurrency and Skyway digital currency).

Skyway was introduced as an economic group specializing in implementing air transport technology projects. Established in Belarus, it mobilizes capital from institutions and individuals through their purchases of share packages.

Skyway is headquartered overseas. It has an office in Vietnam, but has not obtained license from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to do multi-level business. There have been signs of the company violating Vietnamese law by admitting more members into the system. Those who can introduce many members will receive high commissions.

Recommending that people need to be cautious about invitations to make investment and lend money at abnormally high interest rates, AIS said people should check the legal status of the businesses which give invitations (operation licenses and related information).

Before making financial investment, people should consult with prestigious experts. If people have suspicions about the investment, they need to immediately report to appropriate agencies.

Black credit trap

Realizing that many people want to borrow money online for daily expenses, scammers have impersonated bank officers to trick borrowers out of assets.

Advertising the simple procedures and quick disbursement via the internet, scammers can easily trap borrowers.

A woman in Cau Giay district in Hanoi recently reported that she had lost VND400 million when seeking lenders on social networks.

According to AIS, the common trick used by black credit scammers is impersonating officers of finance companies and large commercial banks to gain people’s confidence. Then scammers tell borrowers to transfer money to certain bank accounts to deposit for loans, or to pay a certain amount of money in advance.

Scammers entice borrowers by promising quick disbursement. Borrowers are not required to prove their assets and debt payment capability. However, after borrowers apply for loans, they will be required to pay service fees, dossier fees before getting loans. The money will be appropriated by scammers.

In some cases, scammers requested users to download the counterfeit apps developed to steal personal information (bank account numbers, information about credit cards). After declarations, borrowers not only can’t get loans, but also have their important information leaked out.

Some lenders promised to lend money at low interest rates, but when disbursing money, they unexpectedly changed provisions and set sky high interest rates, plus illogical fines.

If borrowers cannot pay debts on schedule, scammers will threaten borrowers by repeatedly calling them, sending threatening messages and defaming borrowers on social networks.

Impersonating power companies’ officers

Many people reported that they have recently received calls from persons introducing themselves as officers of power companies and requesting clients to provide personal information for profiteering.

Scammers told victims that they still had not paid bills and threaten to cut electricity of the victims don’t make payment promptly. And they ask people to transfer money to a personal account or provide personal information to ‘settle debts’.

Scammers also send messages and emails, show electricity bills with links associated, and counterfeit apps, asking people to use the apps to make payment online.

Once people download apps, click the links and fill information, scammers will appropriate information about credit cards and bank accounts.

AIS said that if people receive requests to pay electricity bills, they need to check the information by directly contacting power companies via hotlines or official websites (websites and switchboard numbers).

Van Anh