At Lê Quý Đôn Gifted High School, students attending the “Not Alone” campaign event were warned about a new dangerous form of cybercrime called “online kidnapping.” This is a tactic where criminals use technology to psychologically control victims, forcing them to cut off communication with their families and become remote “spiritual prisoners” for the purpose of extortion or human trafficking.

Through promotional forms such as distributing flyers, Q&A sessions, and the “Clicking” song, students were guided on the “3 Nos” principle: No joining links, Zoom calls, or meeting strangers; no sharing personal information or sensitive photos; and no following requests to keep secrets, to protect themselves from online kidnapping risks. They also learned the “3 Musts”: Must block and report immediately, must verify information, and must share with family to prevent enticement and manipulation.

Hoàng Lan Anh, a student at Lê Quý Đôn Gifted High School, shared: “I once received a strange message inviting me to a private chat group. I was curious, so I clicked to see. At the time, I just thought it was normal and didn’t know it could be so dangerous. After listening to the police officers today, I now understand that this could be a way criminals try to lure people. Now I know what to do in that situation and will remind my friends and family to be more careful.”

A special feature of this campaign is the song “Clicking,” which has a youthful melody and relatable lyrics, conveying the message of online safety in a vivid, memorable way. The song quickly attracted a positive response from students, creating an exciting atmosphere and spreading the campaign’s positive spirit.

The program also featured the participation of many KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders/influencers on social media), familiar faces to the youth. They shared real-life stories and experiences with safe internet use, while also creating promotional videos on social media to help spread the “Not Alone” message in the community, especially among young people.

At Hoàng Công Chất High School and Na Sang Ethnic Minority Boarding High School, activities within the “Not Alone” campaign attracted many students. The Q&A session on handling real-life situations, led by police officers and young communicators, was a segment that received enthusiastic responses from students and teachers.

Questions revolved around common social media scenarios, such as: What should you do when a stranger messages you, sends a strange link, coaxes you to share private photos, or invites you to a private group? Through each scenario, the students were guided on how to identify risks, stay calm, block and report promptly, while emphasizing the message “Not Alone - Safe Together in Cyberspace.”

Nguyễn Quang Huy, Vice Principal of Na Sang Ethnic Minority Boarding High School, said: “Teens are a very vulnerable group to forms of enticement, scams, manipulation, or even kidnapping through cyberspace. They are often curious and eager to explore, but lack the experience to recognize the risks, making them easy targets for criminals. This communication activity helps them learn how to protect themselves and to share with teachers and parents, so the community can build a safer, healthier online environment for highland students.”

The “Not Alone” campaign is currently being implemented nationwide, initiated by the Digital Trust Alliance, under the auspices of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UNICEF, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the National Cyber Security Association. Through the campaign, the Digital Trust Alliance hopes that every citizen, family, school, organization, and business will join hands to protect children and adolescents, aiming to build a connected community so that no one is “alone” in the digital environment.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Public Security, over 77% of Vietnamese children and adolescents access the Internet daily. Cyberspace offers opportunities for learning, entertainment, and creativity, but it is also an “open door” for high-tech crime. In Vietnam, since the beginning of the year, police forces have received and processed over 50 cases of online kidnapping - 100% of the victims were aged 18-22, and 90% were female. These numbers are a strong reminder of the need for coordinated action and collective commitment to protect children and adolescents in cyberspace.