Chong lua dao (chongluadao.vn) is a not-for-profit project created by Ngo Minh Hieu, or hieupc, a former well-known hacker.

In November, the number of websites that swindled users and stole information discovered by experts of the project was 131. In December and several days in early January, the figure rose by more than three times.

Experts have named a series of websites that cheat people to steal personal information, such as lwqz801[.]com, zingmp3[.]vip, mgm5413[.]com, swissvip8[.]com, shoppevip18[.]com, marketcapce[.]com and others.

Scammers approach victims by sending text messages, forging bank brand names, sending messages via social networks (Zalo, Facebook, Messenger), and making calls, pretending to be bank or telecom carriers’ officers.

According to the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), an arm of the Authority for Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), in December alone, canhbao.khonggianmang.vn, the system managed by the center, received more than 1,100 reports from Vietnamese internet users about suspected swindling cases.

Verifications have found that scammers forge bank websites and e-commerce websites to swindle users out of personal information.

NCSC (the National Cyber Security Center) has also identified some forged websites that users should not access, such as 7168[.]com (forging Lazada), vebo1s[.]co, clmm[.]nl, giaitrimomo[.]net (forging MoMo e-wallet); shopee[.]ccooppcc[.]online (forging Shopee e-commerce platform); lottehanoi[.]com[.]vn (forging Lotte website).

Hieu told VietNamNet that the scams on cyberspace increase on days before Tet holiday.

The most common swindling method is forging financial and investment trading floors, cryptocurrency floors and gambling. 

Scammers also forge brands of Vietnamese and foreign large e-commerce websites to lure investments, thus causing big financial losses to Vietnamese.

It is estimated that in each case of this kind, victims lose VND 30-50 million, while some people lose VND500 million-VND 1 billion.

Nguyen Van Cuong from BKAV said that online swindling is booming when Tet holiday approaches. He advised users to restrict sharing personal information and make online transactions on social networks; keep wary of calls and messages from those who call themselves bank officers or appropriate agencies. 

Users should verify information provided from messages or calls before making transactions. They are also advised to access NCSC’s Tinnhiemang.vn to check information on the reliability of websites, and access chongluadao.vn to report the websites with signs of swindling.

Van Anh