The woman is just one of many cases in which vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and people with disabilities become victims of online scams.

The tragic case was shared by Pham Van Thanh, chair of the Vietnam Youth Association of People with Disabilities, during a discussion session on “Protecting vulnerable groups in the online environment” on October 26.

Thanh cited figures provided by the Ministry of Health as saying that Vietnam has more than 7 million people with disabilities, of whom 5 million live in rural areas. Around 3.2 million are women, 1.2 million are children, and 2 million are young people with disabilities. 

In the online world, children and people with disabilities are among the most active participants but are also the easiest targets for exploitation.

“For ordinary people, they still have health, social integration opportunities, and jobs. But for vulnerable groups, it’s almost a complete loss of faith in life, leaving them with no hope at all,” he explained, referring to why some victims take extreme personal actions after being scammed.

This view was shared by Ngo Minh Hieu, director of Chong Lua Dao (Anti-Scam), during an event held earlier the same day. Reflecting on his “special past - having once been part of the dark side of the internet,” he understands better than anyone the devastating damage cybercrime can cause, not only to individuals but to society as a whole.

“From the elderly and children to students, factory workers, and office employees, cybercriminals leave severe impacts on victims’ lives, finances, and mental health,” said Ngo Minh Hieu.

Particularly, scams targeting vulnerable groups have become a deeply troubling issue. Chong Lua Dao alone receives hundreds of reports daily, with cases growing increasingly sophisticated, often preying on victims’ emotions and trust.

Le Phuoc Hoa, chief technology officer of Chong Lua Dao, categorized three main types of scams: impersonating police agencies, relatives, or charities to exploit victims’ empathy and trust; enticing people to invest in stocks, cryptocurrency, or “easy high-paying jobs”; and hijacking social media accounts.

With the help of AI, criminal schemes are now personalized based on leaked victim information. Combined with deepfake and voice imitation technologies, scammers can attack vulnerable people who lack strong digital skills and tend to trust well-known brands.

If the most vulnerable members of society are protected in the digital space, public trust will grow stronger. To achieve this, the Vietnam Youth Association of People with Disabilities has partnered with various organizations to establish a team of “digital literacy trainers,” helping spread AI knowledge and promote cybersecurity awareness.

This allows vulnerable individuals to shift from being passive victims to proactive participants. They are also encouraged to speak up instead of remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing.

He called on tech companies to develop accessible solutions for the vulnerable, such as AI assistance for blind users accessing services and apps, or color-blind-friendly website versions.

Social empathy is also a crucial factor, as prejudice against people with disabilities still exists. Thanh believes the online environment offers great opportunities for people with disabilities to learn, train, find careers, or even start businesses.

Le Phuoc Hoa said they are using AI to help process scam reports, issue alerts, and provide recommendations to help vulnerable groups defend themselves against cyberattacks. They are also collaborating with social media platforms to reach more people.

“Protection is not just about preventing scams but also about building trust. This is the most essential element of a safe digital society,” emphasized the expert from Chong Lua Dao.

Local authorities play an important role in activities to raise public awareness on information security, especially for students and the elderly.

Pham Thi Le Thuy, Vice Chair of Binh Minh Commune People’s Committee in Dong Nai, said propagating skills to prevent scams and ensure information security is a key task in social management.

“We deploy various forms like broadcasting, posting on social media, organizing conferences and training classes. Recently, the Commune People’s Committee coordinated with local police for a session on ‘Information security and online scam prevention for students’ at Dinh Tien Hoang Secondary School,” Thuy said.

“We create scenario scripts, and guide students on securing Zalo and Messenger. After incidents, students are encouraged to report immediately to homeroom teachers for timely police coordination,” she said.

Du Lam