Online shoppers need to carefully check the information before making a payment.
“The busy end-of-year period is always a time when criminals set many scams because people are usually rushing and preoccupied with shopping for the Lunar New Year, so their vigilance is reduced. Even more worrying is that cybercriminals steal a lot of personal information and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to devise many scenarios. A 'matrix' of scams increases the chances of falling into traps when AI assists,” said Ngo Tran Vu, Director of NTS Security.
Common online scams: With the "shipper" scam, the familiar scenario involves a phone call with realistic-sounding traffic noise. The "fake shipper" claims to have an order but, because the customer isn't home, suggests leaving the package in front of the house or near the security guard, and requests a small transfer of money, around 30,000 to 50,000 VND, as a "shipping fee." This small amount often lulls people into a false sense of security, making them think, "It's only a few tens of thousands, I'll just transfer it to receive the goods."
According to Mr. Vu, the scam scenario continues to escalate when recipients transfer money to "fake shippers." The fraudsters report a transfer error and send a QR code via Zalo or a link, urging the recipient to quickly transfer the money. In reality, this link leads to a website containing malware, and if the recipient is careless when entering the OTP code, not only will they lose the small amount of money mentioned above, but they could lose hundreds of millions of dong from their bank account through the application stored on their phone.
People should also be wary of messages like: "Your January electricity bill is unpaid. The power company will cut off your electricity in 2 hours if you don't receive payment" or "The Tax Department has announced outstanding tax debts for the end of 2025; please pay the fine immediately to avoid being banned from leaving the country during Tet," which can cause recipients to panic. Confused and afraid of trouble, many people might click on suspicious links to make payments… thus falling into a trap.
What's frightening about the increasing trend of tech scams is the involvement of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Scammers have learned to use AI tools to create emails, messages, and documents that look authentic, even from organizations like government agencies, companies, or banks.
Deepfake technology continues to improve, allowing for the impersonation of faces and voices of familiar people during video calls. Deepfake is further aided by Voice Cloning technology, where a few seconds of recording the target's voice allows a perpetrator to command an AI to utter any scenario using that person's voice.
"The old trick to avoid being scammed via text messages, which middle-aged and elderly people often advised each other to do by calling in person, is no longer effective. If you receive a video call near Tet (Lunar New Year) claiming you're short on cash, need money for a plane ticket home, or have an urgent matter and are urging you to transfer money to an unfamiliar account, be wary. You may have become a target of scammers," Mr. Vu said.
Methods to prevent fraud
Three no's:
Don't rush: This is the most important thing. Scammers always use tactics like "I'm in urgent need of money," "The power's about to go out," "I'm about to miss out on discounted train tickets," etc., to prevent the victim from thinking clearly. No matter how urgent the situation seems, stay calm and take a moment to verify the facts.
Do not click on suspicious links: Absolutely do not click on links sent via SMS, Zalo, or email from strangers, especially links with unusual domain extensions (not .vn or .com.vn). Never enter your bank password or OTP code into any website sent to you by someone else. Install effective security applications such as Kaspersky Mobile Security for your phone or Kaspersky Plus for your laptop.
Don't transfer money unless you're sure: For delivery drivers, if they're not home, reschedule the delivery for another time or ask a family member to receive the package in person, check the goods, and then pay in cash. Absolutely do not transfer money in advance unless you can personally check the order's tracking information on the official shopping app.
Two right:
Verification is key: If you receive a video call from a relative asking to borrow money, hang up and call back using your regular phone number (call directly via SIM) to verify. A good tip is to have a "family password," a secret question that only family members and close friends know. If the other person is clueless when you ask for the password, it's almost certainly a deepfake.
Report it immediately: If you are scammed or notice any suspicious activity, you must immediately report it to the bank to temporarily freeze your account and notify the police. Equally important is to share your story with your neighbors and family so they are aware, as your information may have been stolen or your account hacked.
"Digital scams, with their psychological tricks and both direct and indirect approaches, have become very sophisticated. People need to equip themselves with knowledge, information, and vigilance to have the happiest Tet holiday," shared Mr. Ngo Tran Vu.
KIM THANH
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/canh-giac-ma-tran-lua-dao-online-dip-tet-post837903.html
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