Last week, alongside four commonly used methods to deceive the Vietnamese public, the Authority of Information Security (Ministry of Information and Communications) warned domestic users about two new online scam tactics emerging globally.

Over time, the Authority has focused on policy, legal, and technical solutions, while also emphasizing awareness and scam prevention skills for users.

In August, the Authority of Information Security identified 55 additional fake websites impersonating brands for scams, bringing the total number of scam and fake websites in their database to 125,226.

Their weekly news bulletins, an initiative launched in November last year, aim to help users recognize and respond to online scam situations. Below are six key highlights from the report on online scams between September 9 and September 15:

1. Scams exploiting charity appeals after typhoon Yagi

Taking advantage of the destruction caused by Typhoon Yagi, including heavy rains and flooding, scammers have increased fraudulent charitable solicitations in Vietnamese cyberspace. These individuals impersonate state agencies, the Red Cross, and other reputable charities to solicit donations from people wishing to support disaster victims.

2. Impersonation of doctors and cosmetic clinics for financial fraud

In response to the growing demand for cosmetic services, scammers have been impersonating hospitals and cosmetic surgeons to gain the trust of potential clients.

Fake social media accounts using the names and images of reputable doctors are created to share health-related posts, attracting followers. Scammers even provide fake certificates or edit images to enhance their credibility.

3. Billions lost in online financial investment scams

Online financial investment scams continue to cause significant financial losses. For example, a woman in Hanoi recently reported losing 2.3 billion VND after joining the 'Financial Era' group and investing in cryptocurrency through the Bitforex.com platform.

4. Vigilance against labor export scams

The Overseas Labor Center (Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs) has recently issued warnings about fraudulent labor export schemes related to South Korea’s EPS program. Scammers often promise lucrative jobs abroad but instead deceive job seekers with fake contracts.

5. New scam targeting Google Voice users in the USA

A new scam, emerging in the USA, targets people buying and selling items on platforms like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace who use Google Voice. Scammers trick users into sharing Google Voice verification codes, which they then use to commit further fraud.

6. Deepfake videos impersonating Apple CEO Tim Cook for investment scams

In a recent scam in the USA, deepfake videos of Apple CEO Tim Cook have been circulating, calling for cryptocurrency investments. These fake livestreams are created by scammers using deepfake technology to steal users' money.

The Authority of Information Security warns the public to be cautious of investment offers that promise high returns with low risk. They advise users to proactively verify the legitimacy of cryptocurrency investment projects and to avoid following unsolicited investment advice.

Van Anh