Cybercrime in the age of AI: From data theft to "psychological traps"

In the age of AI and deepfakes, cybercriminals are no longer targeting just passwords or bank accounts, but are shifting to manipulating people's emotions, behavior, and beliefs.

In the age of AI and deepfakes, the most important "shield" for users is the ability to control their emotions. (Illustrative image.)

AI and its "psychological traps"

At the recent Digital Trust in Finance 2026 Forum in Hanoi , themed "Building Digital Financial Trust in the AI ​​Era," many experts noted that digital finance is entering a new phase of development, where "digital trust" becomes the vital foundation of the entire ecosystem.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Public Security , in 2025 alone, online scams in Vietnam caused losses exceeding 8 trillion VND. With the rapid development of AI, experts believe that the risks in the digital financial environment are increasing very quickly.

Notably, current forms of fraud are no longer primarily based on stealing technical information but are shifting towards manipulating user behavior. Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Trieu Manh Tung, Deputy Director of the Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department (A05), stated that protecting digital finances is fundamentally about protecting customer trust, while emphasizing that users are becoming a "strategic vulnerability" that cybercriminals exploit.

While hackers previously focused on breaching systems, stealing passwords, or gaining unauthorized access to accounts, many scams are now designed with sophisticated methods to directly manipulate the victim's psychology. A fake police call requesting "cooperation in an investigation," a deepfake video mimicking a relative's voice demanding urgent money transfers, or a "investment expert" constantly pressuring users with deadlines on a livestream are all designed to impair their ability to verify information and make informed decisions while under intense emotional stress.

Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Bui Thi Lien, a specialist in criminal psychology and cybersecurity at the People's Security Academy, said that fraudsters are now systematically exploiting familiar psychological mechanisms such as fear of loss, a tendency to believe in power, time pressure, or the "crowd effect" to manipulate user behavior.

According to Ms. Lien, even those with education, technological knowledge, or financial experience can still become victims. When people are in a state of intense emotion or placed in a deliberately staged emergency situation, the brain easily "switches off" its vigilance.

Another worrying trend is the "pig butchering" scam model – that is, "nurturing the victim until they are big enough before seizing the money." According to Dr. Bui Thi Lien's analysis, with the support of AI, deepfakes, and behavioral manipulation techniques, cybercriminals not only target uninformed individuals but can also lure educated, experienced, and tech-savvy people into voluntarily transferring money.

"People are often easily attracted by glittering things like money, profit, and the prospect of quick success. When caught up in that glamour, it's easy to lose our vigilance," Ms. Lien analyzed.

Besides the "glitter trap," experts are also warning about the trend of "romance scams"—deceptions involving romantic relationships combined with financial investments.

"Digital shields" begin with user awareness.

In the face of evolving cybercrime, citizens need to be at the center of a new defense system. Mr. Nguyen Manh Tuong, Co-Chairman and CEO of MoMo, noted that AI is increasingly involved in financial decision-making, from service recommendations to risk assessment. Technology can help detect fraud and provide early warnings, but it can also create a trust gap if appropriate control mechanisms are lacking.

Experts have also specifically warned of the risks from the cryptocurrency market and new financial products. As online investing becomes increasingly popular, users face a range of risks such as identity fraud, misinformation, fraudulent transactions, or unscrupulous "investment experts" operating on social media.

Mr. Dinh Xuan Truong, a Google security consultant from Noventiq Vietnam, warns that financial institutions are facing many new data vulnerabilities as their financial infrastructure operates in a digital asset environment. According to him, continuous monitoring and real-time risk response capabilities should be considered a proactive shield against increasingly sophisticated attacks.

From a management perspective, Lieutenant General Pham The Tung emphasized that high-tech crimes are no longer limited to technical systems but are shifting towards manipulating user behavior, emotions, and beliefs. According to him, digital trust is no longer a technical concept but has become a strategic infrastructure of the digital economy.

Experts believe that in the age of AI and deepfakes, the most important "shield" for users is the ability to control their emotions, verify information, and remain level-headed before making any financial decisions in the digital environment. Sometimes, just slowing down for a few minutes, being a little calmer, and verifying information one more time can prevent very serious consequences.

Le Minh

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/toi-pham-mang-thoi-ai-tu-danh-cap-du-lieu-den-bay-tam-ly.html