As the Lunar New Year approaches (Year of the Snake), scams promising "easy jobs with high salaries" are rampant again.

(CLO) The Information Security Department of the Ministry of Information and Communications warns that the "easy job, high salary" scam is no longer a new trick, but the sophisticated tactics of these scammers continue to successfully manipulate people's psychology, causing them to fall into the trap.

Be wary of promises of high income.

Recently, the Criminal Police of Quang Ninh province received a report from a man in Cam Pha city about being scammed out of 1.7 billion VND. According to the report, in early January 2025, he received an offer to work as an online collaborator from home, tasked with increasing interaction on an e-commerce platform. Commissions would be paid daily. Seeing the work as simple and lucrative, he continuously transferred money to the provided account to complete the "purchase tasks." However, after transferring 1.7 billion VND, he was unable to withdraw his principal and commission.

As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, scammers are ramping up their operations with the deceptive tactic of promising "easy work, high pay."

Using this tactic, scammers often create Facebook Fanpages offering services to help build online stores or recruit collaborators to work online on e-commerce platforms. When someone inquires, the scam group uses fake Facebook accounts to befriend and entice them to open stores on e-commerce platforms, guiding them through purchasing tasks to steal their money.

Authorities have confirmed that e-commerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada currently do not have programs recruiting collaborators or assigning tasks to increase platform interaction. Any similar offers are scams.

Given the above situation, the Information Security Department ( Ministry of Information and Communications ) advises people to be highly vigilant against promises of high income or easy jobs requiring no qualifications. Verify information from official sources and do not trust unclear announcements or information channels. Do not provide personal information, bank account information, or passwords to anyone. Set up two-factor authentication for online accounts and update passwords regularly. In case of suspicion of fraud, people should immediately report it to the authorities or consumer protection organizations for timely assistance, resolution, and prevention.

Warning about scammers impersonating electricity bill collectors to defraud people of their money.

Recently, there has been a surge in scammers impersonating electricity company employees to defraud people. These individuals typically use phone calls or messages via Zalo or SMS to demand immediate payment of electricity bills, while also threatening to cut off power if payment is not made.

Scammers often impersonate electricity company employees, calling customers to commit fraud.

In this type of scam, fraudsters often impersonate electricity company employees, calling customers and informing them of problems with their electricity bills, such as overdue payments, large outstanding amounts, or technical errors in the system. The scammers may fake the phone numbers of electricity company employees, using caller ID spoofing technology to make their numbers appear as if they were the official numbers of the electricity company. This increases the credibility of the call and makes victims more likely to believe them. They then demand immediate payment through unofficial channels like Zalo or bank transfers. To further pressure them, they may threaten to cut off the electricity supply if payment is not made promptly, causing panic and making victims more likely to comply.

Besides making direct phone calls, scammers also send SMS or Zalo messages with fake content from the electricity company, requesting people to pay their electricity bills. They also provide information such as bank account numbers or fake links for people to access and make payments. After sending the message or making the call, the scammers may send a link to a fake payment website or application from the electricity company for customers to access. When people enter their bank account information, OTP codes, or other personal information, the scammers steal their money and information. To increase credibility, the scammers also investigate the customer's name, address, electricity bill, etc., which are stolen from other sources. Even more sophisticatedly, they send sophisticated QR codes designed with the EVN (Vietnam Electricity Corporation) logo, making victims unsuspecting and prompting them to scan the code and pay the amount the scammer has entered.

To prevent sophisticated scams, the Information Security Department (Ministry of Information and Communications) advises people to be extremely vigilant against calls and messages from unknown individuals. Do not provide personal information via phone, Zalo, or SMS. If you receive a payment request, verify the information through the electricity company's official channels such as its website or customer support hotline. Absolutely do not download applications from unknown sources or websites sent by strangers. Ensure payments are made through methods recognized by the electricity company, such as through banking applications, e-wallets, or direct payment at official payment points. If you have any doubts about a call or message, contact the electricity company immediately to verify the information. In case you become a victim of fraud, you should immediately report it to the police for timely assistance and resolution.

May River

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/can-tet-at-ty-lai-ram-ro-lua-dao-viec-nhe-luong-cao-post330246.html