Individuals and organizations engaged in charitable activities should coordinate with local authorities to organize the distribution of gifts to the people. In the photo: Hue City Police distributing aid through the Dan Dien commune government. Photo: Provided by Hue City Police.

Legitimate charitable activities are conducted through the government.

On November 11th, a group of strangers posing as a charity appeared in Dan Dien commune, distributing gifts to flood victims at two households in Bao La village, Duc Nhuan district. These individuals instructed residents to inform 15 other women in the area to gather to receive the charity. However, upon seeing the women arrive with several men from their families, the group pretended to be impatient because the relief supplies hadn't arrived yet, claiming they needed to check on things before quickly escaping.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dan Dien commune, said that they have received information about the incident. The local authorities will continue to promote awareness through Zalo groups in each residential area; focusing on advising people to be vigilant and not let individuals exploit the name of charity to commit crimes. Legitimate charitable activities are organized through the local government to distribute gifts to each household, so when suspicious activities are detected, people should quickly report them to the authorities and local government for clarification.

"We also encourage and promote charitable organizations to connect with or notify local authorities when carrying out charitable gift distribution activities in the area to ensure security and order, and to prevent malicious individuals from exploiting the situation to spread harmful and toxic content," Mr. Tien shared.

Reportedly, this is not the only incident involving the exploitation of charitable donations during the floods for fraudulent purposes recorded by the Hue City Police recently. In Binh Dien commune, police have observed the appearance of several individuals from other provinces who donated dishwashing liquid and laundry detergent of unknown origin, showing signs of fraud. In Loc An commune, there have also been instances of substandard or expired charitable donations, or even the inclusion and dissemination of advertisements for online gambling websites and applications.

Subtle transformation

According to the Hue City Police, the forms of fraud exploiting the aftermath of natural disasters are becoming increasingly sophisticated. These include impersonating reputable organizations and individuals such as the Red Cross, government agencies, and artists to solicit donations and use personal accounts to receive money; sending messages or making phone calls announcing "post-storm support" and requesting personal information, OTP codes, bank account details, or prompting access to suspicious links or app downloads; and impersonating delivery drivers or bank employees to request payment for orders or support fees in order to steal money.

These types of scams can be easily detected through unusual signs such as: newly created Facebook pages with few followers, using logos or images taken from other sources; account numbers that do not match the organization's name or are not published on official channels; messages or calls from unknown numbers with urgent content, requesting you to click links or provide personal information; appeals without clear verification information, lacking transparency in the purpose and method of donation.

The Hue City Police Department advises citizens to only donate and support through organizations and accounts officially announced by authorities. They also warn against providing personal information, OTP codes, or bank account details to strangers via phone or social media; against accessing suspicious links; and against installing applications from unknown sources. Upon receiving information about "support available," citizens should verify the information directly with local authorities. Furthermore, they should immediately report any signs of fraud to the nearest police station.

Given the severe impact of the historic floods on Hue City, which has led to a complex security and public order situation, Colonel Ho Xuan Phuong, Deputy Director of Hue City Police and Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Hue City Police), has directed police units and localities to proactively monitor the situation and implement comprehensive operational measures; focusing on preventing, detecting, and effectively combating all types of crime, especially theft, fraud, and crimes committed while exploiting natural disasters.

Based on this, the police in communes and wards have strengthened their 24/7 presence, deployed comprehensive patrols, and intensified the dissemination of information about potential scams, thefts, and other crimes that may occur after the natural disaster. This is done through direct and online communication on social media and mass media to ensure that people understand the situation. This contributes to stabilizing security and order in the city, creating conditions for people to confidently overcome the consequences of the natural disaster and quickly restore their lives.

Text and photos: Minh Nguyen

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-polit-xa-hoi/phap-luat-cuoc-song/tu-thien-ao-va-nhung-chieu-lua-sau-mua-lu-159910.html