A "shield" against online kidnapping.

In the context of increasingly sophisticated cybercrime, online kidnappings targeting young people have become a major societal concern. This is not just a personal issue; it also poses a challenge to community protection systems, the law, and relevant authorities.

Unpredictable and deceptive tactics

According to statistics from the Ministry of Public Security , in the first six months of 2025, authorities recorded dozens of cases of online fraud, seduction, psychological manipulation, and kidnapping involving children and students. Many victims were forced to cut off contact with their families and were remotely controlled for the purpose of extortion or human trafficking. In An Giang province alone, in recent months, authorities have successfully rescued many students in the communes of Cho Moi, Cho Vam, Phu Tan, Phu An, etc., who were kidnapped online by criminals. Many cases, where victims were being forced to leave their families or lured into illegal activities, were promptly intervened by authorities and brought back to safety.

iSchool Rach Gia International School, in collaboration with the Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department, organized a talk show titled "Not Alone - Staying Safe Online Together". Photo: Provided by iSchool Rach Gia.

Ms. BTDT, residing in My Thuan commune, said her family was very fortunate to have discovered the incident in time before her daughter was exploited by the perpetrator. “For the past few weeks, my daughter has been constantly asking to skip school. She stays up late, is always restless and anxious, and is constantly on her phone, unlike before. Recently, she even asked me for 5 million VND, saying it was for extra class fees. When I contacted the school, I learned that there was no such fee. When I pressed her for an explanation, my daughter burst into tears, saying that a stranger had contacted her by phone, claiming to be a police officer, informing her that her personal information was involved in a human trafficking ring and demanding her cooperation in providing more information and paying money to assist in the investigation,” Ms. DT said.

Besides threatening victims with announcements of involvement in drug trafficking or human trafficking cases, many perpetrators also use online kidnapping tactics in the form of fake international scholarship announcements. VNAD, a 12th-grade student at a high school in Rach Gia ward, recounted: “In early October, I received an email announcing I had won a full scholarship from a school in London (England), along with instructions to provide personal information and pay a deposit. Initially, I was very happy, thinking it was a rare opportunity. I intended to follow the instructions, but felt something was strange; the email requested a lot of personal information, not just diplomas or certificates. I discussed this with my homeroom teacher. She reminded me to carefully check the information and also discussed it with my parents. When everyone checked together, we discovered it was a scam, a fake scholarship designed to steal personal information.”

Shields protecting young people

The "Not Alone" campaign is considered the first nationwide "digital shield" initiative, targeting 12 million young people aged 12-24, expanding its reach to 22 million students and millions of parents and teachers who serve as the "first line of defense" in protecting children from online dangers. The campaign aims to protect children and young people from online threats such as fraud, psychological manipulation, or online abduction.

These drawings were submitted by elementary school students to a competition in response to the "Not Alone" campaign. Photo: Provided by iSchool Rach Gia.

To promote the message of the "Never Alone" campaign, iSchool Rach Gia International School in Rach Gia ward organized various competitions such as painting and video making to encourage students to learn, create works, and participate in the campaign. The school also collaborated in organizing seminars to help students recognize risks, raise awareness, and protect themselves in the online environment.

Mr. Quach Hoang Huy, Secretary of the Youth Union of iSchool Rach Gia International School, shared: “The school recently concluded the “Not Alone” campaign, awarding prizes to high-quality drawings and videos that truly reflected the campaign's spirit. Through these activities, we want to emphasize the importance of close cooperation between schools and parents in protecting children from online dangers. Beyond external supervision and guidance, students also need to raise their own awareness, be cautious, and know how to protect themselves when participating in social media or encountering unverified information.”

The Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of the Provincial Police said that a comprehensive approach is needed, encompassing management, technical, and communication strategies. Authorities will continue to coordinate with network operators and platform management units to quickly review and block accounts showing signs of impersonation or fraud; enhance the application of technology in tracing and identifying users; and intensify information security awareness campaigns for children and parents. They also proposed expanding training in schools, especially on identifying tactics used by criminals to lure and entice victims into meeting in person – a common method employed by perpetrators.

The provincial police advise citizens, especially teenagers, to limit sharing personal information online, avoid private conversations or sending sensitive images to strangers, and refuse to meet unless their identity is verified. Parents should regularly talk to and guide their children to recognize risks and promptly report any unusual signs, such as strangers approaching or luring them online, to the authorities. Individual vigilance, along with early reporting, is crucial in minimizing risks and assisting law enforcement in preventing online kidnapping from the outset.

TUONG VI

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/-la-chan-truoc-nan-bat-coc-online-a468414.html