Warning about bank scams during the year-end and Lunar New Year period.

Việt Nam•21/12/2023

Using sophisticated methods and tricks such as 3D printing technology, counterfeiting QR codes, and attaching fake electronic chips, these individuals are forging citizen identification cards (CCCD) to open bank accounts for fraudulent purposes.

Recently, the banking system in the province has issued numerous warnings about individuals exploiting banking activities to commit fraud and misappropriate assets. (Photo taken at the State Bank of Vietnam's provincial branch).

The bank is constantly issuing warnings about scams.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hoa, an employee of Lien Viet Bank's Hoa Binh branch, said: "As soon as we discovered the fraudulent scheme of forging citizen identification cards for the purpose of deception, Lien Viet Bank issued a warning about this behavior to all customers using our services, so that they are aware and vigilant against this extremely sophisticated trick."

Accordingly, regarding the methods used by these individuals to post advertisements on social media and groups, they offered services such as: "making fake citizen identification cards," "making fake citizen identification cards with standard chip blanks," "fast citizen identification card production, home delivery," etc. Simultaneously, these individuals purchased genuine citizen identification card information to carry out the forgery; using methods such as photo manipulation, 3D printing technology, counterfeiting QR codes, attaching fake chip plates, and then using the fake citizen identification cards to register bank accounts online in order to commit fraud.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hoa, the Lien Viet Bank branch in Hoa Binh has not detected this type of activity during its operations. However, many cases of using fake citizen identification cards to commit crimes have been discovered at bank branches nationwide. Furthermore, through inspection and control efforts, relevant units and agencies promptly prevented two incidents in Lac Son district, preventing people from transferring hundreds of millions of dong to fraudsters through the Lien Viet Bank system in 2023.

Based on the above situation, the bank has advised customers that when receiving calls or messages requesting their Citizen Identification Card (CCCD) information, they should not provide the information immediately but verify the caller's identity by asking for their own information, address, contact phone number, workplace, reason for requesting CCCD information, or contacting them again through another trusted channel; they should not join groups that post articles related to CCCD forgery. They should be cautious and thoroughly research advertisements on social media; they should not disclose important information such as their CCCD number, bank account number, or password; they should not share images of their CCCD on social media, nor lend or allow strangers to photograph their CCCD; and they should not rent, buy, or sell their CCCD. They should absolutely not install applications from unknown sources.

Don't make yourself a victim of fraud.

According to information from the Provincial Police, no cases involving the use of fake citizen identification cards for fraud and misappropriation of property have been detected in the province recently. However, functional units of the Provincial Police are currently investigating and clarifying one case in Cao Phong district where an individual used another person's citizen identification card to register accounts and services in the telecommunications sector for the purpose of fraud and misappropriation of property.

Besides Lien Viet Bank, other banks are also continuously issuing warnings to customers about individuals exploiting banking operations for fraudulent purposes. For example, HD Bank recently posted a warning about common bank fraud and impersonation schemes: fraudsters often send messages impersonating the bank from unfamiliar phone numbers or the bank's brand to inform customers that their accounts show signs of unusual activity, fees are being deducted, etc., then instruct customers to log in via a link sent with the message, requesting them to provide their bank account security information (username, password, OTP...). If customers provide this information, the fraudsters can log in and perform malicious actions on their accounts.

According to representatives of the State Bank of Vietnam in the province, many individuals are currently exploiting banking activities to commit human trafficking through money transfer transactions. The banking system has continuously issued warnings to raise public awareness and vigilance among customers when conducting financial transactions, preventing criminals from exploiting loopholes to commit human trafficking.

Regarding this issue, Colonel Truong Quang Hai, Deputy Director of the Provincial Police, shared: In reality, most cases related to online money laundering involve the banking sector. The perpetrators often use bank accounts that have been purchased or opened by others to receive money transferred by victims, then transfer it to other bank accounts to erase traces. Furthermore, with the trend of cashless transactions, the rapid development and widespread use of electronic banking services, including account opening and transactions, allows perpetrators to exploit various methods and tactics to commit crimes.

Especially towards the end of the year, leading up to the Lunar New Year, these criminals are more active, employing increasingly sophisticated methods and tactics. Therefore, people must be even more vigilant to avoid falling into the traps of fraudsters. Combating this type of crime is very difficult. In the past, the Provincial Police have received many reports and denunciations of online fraud, but when tracing the bank accounts provided by the perpetrators, the leads are almost always lost...

Manh Hung

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