Applying for a passport online like this, beware of scams!

You might think you're applying for a passport online quickly and easily, but in reality, you're gradually handing over all your personal data to cybercriminals.

Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•18/05/2025

The fraudulent scheme of creating fake e-passport websites is becoming a dangerous "super trap," causing victims to lose money, identity, and digital security, while scammers calmly profit hundreds of millions of dong.

New tricks disguised as "public services"

According to the Nghe An Provincial Police website, exploiting people's preference for quick and simple administrative procedures, perpetrators have created fake websites with interfaces similar to the National Public Service Portal or official websites of the Ministry of Public Security . On these websites, they provide detailed instructions on how to " register for a passport online ," request users to pay passport fees, "expedited processing" fees, and even collect citizen identification card images and portrait photos for fraudulent purposes. Some common tactics include:

- Impersonating official websites of online public administrative services: Using addresses that closely resemble the real ones, such as hochieu-online.vn, lamhochieu24h.com, instead of https://dichvucong.gov.vn or https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn

- Impersonating police officers: Making phone calls, sending text messages, or emails requesting additional documents or payment for "urgent processing."

- Scams via social media platforms: Creating Facebook fan pages with thousands of followers, posting "detailed" instructions, including phone numbers and links leading to fraudulent websites, and then collecting personal data.

According to Mr. Vu Ngoc Son, Director of Technology at the Vietnam National Cyber Security Technology Company, "Hackers often lure victims into accessing fake websites to download malicious applications. Once the application is granted permission, it will operate stealthily, remotely controlling the device to carry out illegal transactions, even when the device is not in use."

Illustrative image/ Information Security Agency.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Phuong, residing in Xuan Phuong ward (Nam Tu Liem district), is still feeling resentful and worried after being scammed while hiring a " fast-track" passport service that claimed it would take only two days.

Mr. Phuong recounted that, through the Facebook group "Fast Passport Service," he chose an account because it had the most comments and the promise: "Pay only when you receive your passport." After calling the number 0378756459, he received instructions via Zalo to send a portrait photo, a photo of his chip-embedded citizen ID card, his registered phone number, his VNEID level 1 or level 2 electronic identification, his VNEID password, and his address…

After two days, the person sent Mr. Phuong a picture of their passport. Feeling confident, when the person suggested paying in advance to cover expenses, Mr. Phuong readily transferred 3 million VND. “After I transferred the money, I tried calling the number but couldn't reach them. I was very worried, partly because I lost money and missed an appointment, but most of all because I had provided a lot of personal information and was afraid it might be leaked and exploited by malicious individuals…”

Following up on the information provided by Mr. Phuong, reporters accessed social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok and found dozens of individuals and groups posting information about "express passport services," "super-fast passports nationwide," etc., with enticing offers such as: "Pay only upon receiving the goods," "Customers only need to take a portrait photo, we'll take care of the rest"...

Groups and pages offering "passport application services" on Facebook. (Image: Vietnam Immigration Portal)

However, many groups have also been created to warn about scams involving collecting money for passport services and then disappearing. In the group "Exposing Visa - Passport - Financial Proof - Spam Scams," many posts warn about and provide information, images, and personal accounts of scammers.

The Nguyen Kim account repeatedly posted warnings about the account of Pham Huy A., phone number 0937795XXX, who specializes in processing passports quickly within 2-3 days but takes money from customers then disconnects their phone, blocks them on Facebook, and changes their profile picture. The Nguyen Kim account itself stated that it had also been scammed out of 5 million VND...

How to recognize and avoid "online passport scams"

In light of ongoing scams, the Information Security Department ( Ministry of Information and Communications ) advises citizens to be vigilant when searching for exit permit services on social media. Currently, the Immigration Department only provides services through its official website https://xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/. Any Facebook accounts or fan pages offering similar services are fake. Absolutely do not provide personal images or information, and do not transfer money to any unknown individuals. If you notice any signs of fraud, organizations and individuals should immediately report it to the nearest police station for appropriate action.

People should be wary of online expedited passport services advertised on social media. (Photo: VTV)

The Immigration Department recommends that citizens submit their applications online themselves through the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security's Public Service Portal. If they are unable to submit the application themselves, they can ask friends or relatives who are familiar with information technology for guidance and assistance, or they can go directly to the Immigration Department's office for assistance.

We urge the public to absolutely avoid dealing through intermediaries or advertisements on social media platforms like Zalo and Facebook to prevent being exploited by scammers.

To prevent malicious individuals from exploiting online passport application "services" to steal personal information and commit illegal acts, the Immigration Department provides the following instructions on the procedure for submitting online passport applications:

Step 1: Log in to the National Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security's Public Service Portal and select the "Issuance of Ordinary Passport" service. For first-time passport applications, choose to use the service at the provincial level where it is most convenient. For subsequent passport applications, citizens can choose to use the service at the provincial or central level.

Step 2: Submit your application

- Upload a portrait photo.

- Basic citizen information (full name, date of birth, gender, residential address, etc.) is automatically updated by the Public Service Portal from the National Population Database. Citizens add any missing information to the corresponding columns and sections: place of birth, request details, registration of passport issuance location; account information (for refund in case the passport is not issued).

- For cases involving lost passports, passport renewal, or other cases requiring additional documentation as per regulations, please follow the instructions in the DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS section.

Step 3: Verify the information

- Select the "AGREE AND CONTINUE" option to review all the information.

- After checking, enter the verification code and select SUBMIT APPLICATION.

- After completing these steps, citizens wait for approval from the immigration authorities.

- If the system detects that the 9-digit ID card information has been updated, the application will not be eligible for online submission. Citizens must go to the local police station in their place of residence to update their population data or go directly to the immigration management agency to submit their passport application.

- In cases of passport renewal where the old passport is still valid, citizens are required to submit the old passport.

Step 4: Pay the fee online

After the application is approved, the applicant pays the fee online via a link sent by the Public Service Portal via text message or email.

Step 5: Receive passport issuance results.

Citizens can receive their passport results at the immigration office or at home if they registered to receive them via postal service.

Step 2: Submit your application

- Upload a portrait photo.

- For cases involving lost passports, passport renewal, or other cases requiring additional documentation as per regulations, please follow the instructions in the DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS section.

Step 3: Verify the information

- Select the "AGREE AND CONTINUE" option to review all the information.

- After checking, enter the verification code and select SUBMIT APPLICATION.

- After completing these steps, citizens wait for approval from the immigration authorities.

- In cases of passport renewal where the old passport is still valid, citizens are required to submit the old passport.

Step 4: Pay the fee online

After the application is approved, the applicant pays the fee online via a link sent by the Public Service Portal via text message or email.

Step 5: Receive passport issuance results.

Citizens can receive their passport results at the immigration office or at home if they registered to receive them via postal service.

Speaking with a reporter from Tri Thuc va Cuoc Song newspaper , lawyer Nguyen Ngoc Hung - Head of Ket Noi Law Office (Hanoi Bar Association) said that the act of impersonating the official websites of agencies such as the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security to illegally collect personal information is considered a violation of cybersecurity laws.

Lawyer Nguyen Ngoc Hung - Head of Ket Noi Law Office (Hanoi Bar Association).

According to Article 84 of Decree 15/2020/ND-CP on penalties for violations of regulations on the collection and use of personal information, a fine of VND 40,000,000 to VND 60,000,000 shall be imposed for the illegal collection, use, dissemination, or trading of another person's personal information. The remedial measure is the mandatory deletion of the personal information resulting from the violation.

Furthermore, the act of impersonating the website of another organization or individual, as stipulated in Clause 3, Article 99 of Decree 15/2020/ND-CP, will be subject to a fine of VND 20,000,000 to VND 30,000,000. Additional penalties include confiscation of evidence and means used in the administrative violation. Remedial measures include the removal of links to false or misleading information, information violating the law, and the revocation or return of the domain name.

In cases where the act causes serious consequences or is of a particularly dangerous nature, criminal liability may be pursued for crimes related to cybersecurity, such as crimes involving the appropriation, disclosure, alteration, deletion, or damage of network system information, crimes involving online fraud, or other crimes as stipulated in the 2015 Penal Code, amended and supplemented in 2017.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/khai-ho-chieu-online-kieu-nay-coi-chung-sap-bay-lua-dao-post1541432.html