Recently, "online kidnapping" scams have appeared more frequently with sophisticated tactics. Along with property damage, this method risks pushing victims into more serious criminal networks such as human trafficking or forced labor if not detected and intervened in time.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, in the third quarter of 2025, property appropriation scams were generally contained, but, in cyberspace, tactics are becoming increasingly difficult to identify. 

In the first eight months of 2025 alone, the country recorded more than 1,500 online scam cases, a 65 percent increase over the same period last year, with total estimated losses exceeding VND1,660 billion.

Online kidnapping has emerged as a particularly dangerous form. Without the need for direct contact or physical restraint, perpetrators only use phones, social networks, and psychological manipulation scripts. Victims are forced to self-isolate, cut off contact with family, and follow instructions, believing they are facing real danger.

The majority of victims are Gen Z, mainly pupils and students, a group that is tech-savvy but vulnerable to psychological manipulation.

Gen Z as easy targets

Psychology expert Mai Viet Duc (Nhan Hoa Viet Psychological Counseling and Therapy Center) believes that Gen Z is not easily deceived due to a lack of knowledge, but because they are in an incomplete stage of psychological development.

According to Duc, at the adolescent and early adult ages, the ability to control emotions and assess risks is still developing, while emotions are strong and easily triggered. When threatened, pressured, or targeted regarding their sense of honor, many young people quickly fall into a state of panic, losing the ability to think clearly and following wrong directions.

Gen Z has grown up in a digital environment, accustomed to communicating through social networks and phones, making it easy to think they are "tech-savvy" and therefore hard to fool. In reality, "online kidnapping" tricks do not attack with technology, but strike directly at the emotions, fears, and isolation of the victim.

Duc said that scammers often exploit three prominent psychological characteristics of Gen Z. First is the fear of being judged and disappointing their families. When scammers impersonate authorities to accuse them of legal or moral violations, many young people fall into a state of shame and fear, choosing silence and following instructions instead of seeking support.

Second is the tendency to want a quick fix to escape negative emotions. When pressured by deadlines, threatened with consequences and subjected to constant intimidation, many victims comply with demands simply to “get it over with,” without taking time to verify the information.

Third is the lack of self-soothing skills and the ability to seek support during a crisis. Many young people may be confident and active on social networks but are hesitant to share problems in real life for fear of being blamed or judged. Self-isolation inadvertently falls right into the script of the scammers.

Duc emphasizes the pivotal role of the family in creating a psychologically safe environment. When young people believe they can speak out without being scolded or blamed, the risk of falling into a fraud trap will decrease significantly.

Schools also need to go further than general information sessions by equipping students with skills to identify psychological manipulation, how to handle threats, and forming the habit of "pause - verify - find a supporter."

"For young people, I often emphasize three principles: the more you panic, the more you should not make decisions; no law enforcement agency requests secrecy, isolation, or money transfers over the phone; and calling for help is not a sign of weakness but a psychological survival skill," Duc said.

According to the expert, the nature of "online kidnapping" is a psychological manipulation crime, not simply a technological fraud. To prevent it effectively, alongside digital skills, young people need to be equipped with strong internal psychological strength and live in a family and school environment safe enough to dare to speak up when in danger.

Vu Diep