This piece is brought to you by the Words on the Street column from the Hanoi Times, which explores the challenges and realities faced by everyday people. In a world where technology promises convenience, it also opens the door to danger. With fraudsters becoming more sophisticated, exploiting fears and trust, no one is safe from these online traps, making awareness and caution more critical than ever.

In mid-October, a 43-year-old woman in Hanoi lost VND3 billion (almost US$120,000) from her bank account after installing suspicious software on her phone.

According to the Public Security Department of Tay Ho District, the victim had received a call from someone impersonating a police officer, asking her to install a fraudulent public service app.

Previously, Hanoi police had received several reports of similar incidents. This is a new tactic criminals are using, particularly targeting families with young children needing to apply for identity cards.

The scammers pose as police or local officials, instructing victims to download fake apps on their phones to process ID applications online.

This issue has grown into a serious problem, not just a temporary phenomenon, especially as society becomes more dependent on technology in the era of the Industry 4.0.

According to the Center for National Cybersecurity Monitoring under the Ministry of Information and Communications’ Information Security Department, there were nearly 10,000 reports of online fraud from Vietnamese internet users in the first half of 2024.

These criminals often pretend to be government officials, service providers, financial organizations, family members, and friends to take advantage of people’s fear, greed, emotions, or overconfidence.

Among the cases reported to us, many victims lost between several billion to tens of billions of dong, mostly after being tricked into investing online.

In 2024, online scams in Vietnam have become increasingly diverse and sophisticated. Criminals continually evolve their tactics, adapting to current social issues to trap unsuspecting or uninformed victims.

One personal example comes to mind: A woman I know on Facebook shared her story about falling victim to a deepfake scam. Using deepfake technology, the fraudster mimicked the voice and face of her acquaintance, then called her to ask for money.

The scammer sent her a message with a link. Once she clicked on it, her phone was infected with malware, exposing her personal information and bank accounts.

What made the situation particularly unsettling was that the fraudster could impersonate her friend even while the person was traveling, describing their location and current activities with uncanny accuracy. This deeply frightened my friend, despite her background in working for a foreign company that specializes in cybersecurity solutions.

According to Nguyen Phu Luong, Deputy Director of the Center for National Cybersecurity Monitoring, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and the widespread leakage of personal data are significant factors that criminals exploit for online scams.

Deepfake technology allows the creation of high-quality fake videos and audio, while AI helps cybercriminals identify and exploit vulnerabilities in security systems, bypass traditional defenses, and enhance the effectiveness of their attacks.

When personal data is leaked, scammers can use this information to more easily deceive their targets. In addition, it becomes increasingly difficult for users to distinguish between real and fake information as forgery technologies become more sophisticated and harder to detect.

The target groups for scammers have shifted, focusing more on the elderly, children, and low-income individuals – people with limited tech knowledge and weaker scam detection skills, making them more vulnerable to attacks.

Overconfidence as root of cybercrimes

Many of us don't usually question calls or messages from friends or family members in financial distress.

I often joke with my friends on Facebook by sending money-lending messages, and their reactions are usually not very pleasant. Some even try to video call me to verify my identity.

However, verification methods like video calls or group calls are not foolproof. If the scammer has installed malware on my phone, they can essentially control my phone’s camera and other functions.

In cases where victims fall for fake app installations, part of the problem lies in their own overconfidence. While I don’t intend to blame the victims, users need to remain highly vigilant when they receive money requests or are asked to install public service or financial apps.

Most of us are cautious when we receive a money request call. However, hearing a familiar voice or seeing a familiar face can quickly break down our defenses.

Even knowledgeable, well-informed individuals can fall victim to these scams, proving how sophisticated cybercriminals have become. No one is immune to their tactics.

So, what’s the solution?

We need to stay alert to every call or message related to money, family, or friends. Never install unfamiliar software on your phone or computer, and avoid visiting illegal websites that are often riddled with malware.

Additionally, we should keep up with news on cybersecurity crime prevention to increase our awareness. And always remember that all government administrative procedures should be handled directly at local government offices.

If you need to complete such procedures electronically, either contact the local authorities or take the time to visit the official government office, where you can access reliable information about official public service websites.

In the midst of the opportunities created by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, society also faces many risks. To navigate this era safely, it is crucial to continually educate ourselves and remain vigilant against these emerging threats.