While Vietnam has seen a significant drop in the number of online scam victims for the first time in years, one troubling issue persists: most victims still choose not to report the crime. Instead, many only warn friends and family - or do nothing at all. Alarmingly, 12.03% of victims surveyed admitted to simply accepting the loss without taking any further action.

According to the National Cybersecurity Association (NCA), this is still a major hurdle in the country’s fight against online fraud, even amid positive shifts in digital safety.

2025 marks a turning point in Vietnam’s cybersecurity landscape

For the first time in years, 2025 recorded a decline in the number of online scam victims in Vietnam. But experts caution that this is no time for complacency. Cyberattacks are constantly evolving in complexity, making them harder to detect and prevent.

The findings come from the NCA’s 2025 Cybersecurity Survey Report focused on individual users. The survey was conducted online across NCA’s platforms between December 1 and December 18, 2025, and received responses from over 60,300 users nationwide.

Fraud incidents fall, but vigilance remains essential

The survey results show a notable drop in the number of scam victims in 2025 compared to 2024. On average, 1 out of every 555 respondents reported falling victim to an online scam in 2025, a rate of 0.18%. This marks a significant improvement from the previous year’s rate of 0.45%, or 1 victim out of every 220 respondents.

NCA highlighted this as a highly positive development, crediting it to the intensified efforts by government agencies. Notably, the Ministry of Public Security has carried out large-scale operations targeting domestic and international scam networks.

In parallel, public awareness campaigns have been expanded in both format and reach, empowering citizens with the tools to recognize and avoid online scams.

Stronger banking regulations have also played a role. New biometric verification rules introduced by the State Bank of Vietnam now apply to both personal and business accounts. These policies have made it harder for scammers to exploit anonymous or “junk” accounts - a tactic commonly used before 2024.

Banks have also ramped up collaboration with the State Bank and law enforcement, enabling real-time sharing of suspicious account information. This coordination has helped freeze and intercept funds linked to fraudulent activities.

Cyber threats still evolving - no room for complacency

Despite the decline in victim numbers, Vu Ngoc Son, Head of Technology at the NCA, warned that online fraud is still highly complex and dangerous.

“Cybercriminals are constantly experimenting with new tactics and technologies. They may find ways to bypass existing protections, which means users must remain cautious. The threat is always present in the digital space,” he said.

The Ministry of Public Security reported that losses from online scams in the first 11 months of 2025 still exceeded 6 trillion VND (over USD 250 million) - a figure that underscores the scale and persistence of the problem.

Most common scams in 2025

The NCA’s 2025 survey identified the top fraud tactics used by criminals last year, most of which remain variations of familiar schemes: impersonating authorities, fake lottery wins, delivery scams, impersonating acquaintances, online dating, and investment fraud.

But these scams are becoming more sophisticated, making them harder for victims to spot.

The most prevalent scam involved criminals impersonating police officers. These con artists accused victims of being involved in criminal investigations, then pressured them to stay in contact while subtly escalating psychological pressure. Victims were asked to transfer “proof of innocence” money or to install apps “for investigation purposes” - which were in fact tools to steal data or money.

In some cases, scammers staged elaborate fake police offices and coordinated video calls involving multiple actors playing different roles to increase their credibility and manipulate victims more effectively.

The second most common scam was fake prize notifications or gift giveaways used to trick users into revealing personal information or transferring money.

Investment scams promising quick, high returns dropped to third place in 2025, suggesting growing public awareness after such schemes exploded in popularity the year prior.

Delivery scams and romance frauds remained in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Though not new, these types of scams have proven resilient and continue to catch victims off guard.

Low reporting rate remains a major challenge

Despite these developments, the reporting behavior of victims has not improved. Only 32.12% of those who fell for a scam in 2025 reported it to the authorities.

The rest either warned people around them or stayed silent. A concerning 12.03% simply accepted their losses without taking any further action.

Experts warn that this reluctance to report scams is a critical obstacle. Without timely reports, authorities lack the data they need to investigate, prevent future crimes, and issue warnings to protect the broader community.

Thai Khang