Instead of following the instructions, Hiếu went directly to his bank branch to verify. There, bank staff explained the situation and warned him that such SMS Brandname scams were becoming common, preying on customers’ greed and lack of vigilance. Had he complied, he could have lost money, exposed personal data, or even had his entire mobile device compromised.

Hiếu shared: “At first, the message looked convincing because it used the bank’s name and persuasive wording. But I was still suspicious, so I decided to check directly at the branch. Thanks to that, I understood the risks and avoided losing money or personal information.”

His story is only one example among countless evolving scams targeting people’s gullibility and desire for quick gains. Common tricks include offering “easy, high-paying jobs” or investments promising unusually high returns.

In early July, the Điện Biên provincial Police Department launched Operation 625T, collaborating with Lao authorities to dismantle a fraud network in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone. The raid arrested 45 suspects and seized 233 mobile phones, 292 all-in-one PCs, 36 desktop computers, thousands of SIM cards, projectors, and other devices. Police also uncovered hundreds of notebooks containing meticulously scripted fraud scenarios, from initial contact to psychological manipulation and asset appropriation.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Mạnh Hà, Head of the Division for Combating Social Crimes and Human Trafficking, explained: “These scams primarily target youth. Commonly, they lure victims with fake job offers of VND 20-25 million per month or investment schemes promising returns of 20-35%.”

Most fraud rings are based abroad or in border areas, carefully studying socio-economic trends and public needs to craft sophisticated schemes. To gain credibility, many groups create fake Facebook fanpages, manipulate the platform to obtain verification badges, run ads, and purchase fake comments to build trust.

In early August, exploiting public sympathy after severe floods in Điện Biên, a fake fanpage impersonating the Điện Biên provincial General Hospital called for donations. On August 2, it posted images of the hospital but changed patient names and account numbers for contributions. The post received over 10,000 likes, hundreds of comments, and dozens of shares. Authorities confirmed some individuals had transferred money to the fraudulent account.

Most recently, during the National Day (September 2), cybercriminals took advantage of heightened consumer demand and public excitement to execute scams such as: sending links to claim holiday gifts, offering VNeID activation support, or selling fake tickets to commemorative events.

As scams evolve, citizens must protect personal data and finances by carefully verifying account sources and only interacting with authenticated profiles. Avoid downloading software from unknown links, and never share personal or financial information without verifying authenticity. Upon detecting fraudulent activity, immediately report it to the police or cybersecurity units for timely intervention.