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Strengthening Online Scam Awareness to guard the Digital Space
The increasing amount of detected online scams, cybercriminals, and the rising damages due to fraud are ringing alarm bells for everybody. Having awareness about online fraud and raising vigilance against online scams have grown to be more crucial than previously.

With over 70 million Internet users and limited awareness about online fraud tactics, Vietnam has become a fertile ground for cybercriminals to thrive with increasingly sophisticated and dangerous scamming schemes, targeting high-value assets. Social media platforms, OTT messaging applications, and various online channels, while offering connectivity and clear communication benefits, also have become channels for criminals to execute scams on various user demographics, from older people to office workers, laborers, youth, students, and even children.

Dominant Types of Online Scams
According to statistics, you can find three main sets of scams (brand impersonation, account takeover, and combined forms) with 24 specific scamming methods taking place in the Vietnamese cyberspace. Among these, the "SIM lock" scam because of the non-standardized subscriber registration, the spread of SMS Brandname impersonation messages, and online recruitment scams are the three most prevailing forms, impacting various age groups. This article will provide identification signs and precautions against these three highly vigilant online scam forms prevalent today.

1. "SIM Lock" Scam
Fraudsters often impersonate as government officials or network representatives, calling users and informing them that their phone number will be locked for two hours due to various reasons like "unpaid fines" or "incorrect subscriber information." After requesting personal information, they further instruct users to perform certain steps, such as for example sending messages to change the owner's information or forwarding calls. After they gain control over incoming calls, the perpetrators log in to the victim's e-wallet applications, social media marketing accounts, etc., and claim to have forgotten their login credentials, choosing the feature to receive OTP notification calls. From there, they can easily hijack social media accounts, control e-wallet funds, and access bank accounts associated with e-wallets.

To avoid falling lừa đảo trực tuyến , users should actively verify if their information has been standardized or not through tools and guidance from network providers. They ought to not comply with requests from unfamiliar telephone numbers and really should only follow update and standardization notifications from official channels of mobile network providers.

2. SMS Brandname Impersonation Scam
Scammers exploit the automatic connection feature to BTS stations with strong phone signal strength. They use fake BTS stations to send a large number of SMS Brandname impersonation messages to users, looking to seize their assets. The devices used to generate fake BTS stations are readily available on the market and so are transported to crowded places like public events, where they send messages to connected subscribers.

To avoid falling for SMS Brandname impersonation scams, individuals should exercise extreme care in the next actions:

Remember that banks, providers, manufacturers, etc., typically do not request private information through SMS, email, chat software, etc. Therefore, receiving SMS messages demanding private information is abnormal.

Never access links in suspicious or unverified messages. Usually do not log into personal accounts on such websites.

Avoid providing names, online banking login passwords, OTP codes, charge card numbers, and other bank-related information over the phone, email, social media, or websites. Use electronic banking services only through the official website of the lender, and contact the bank's hotline for official information. The official websites of banks usually use the https protocol and end with the .vn domain.

If receiving unusual messages, promptly contact the brand's official hotline to verify the legitimacy of the web site or application.

In the event of fraud discovery, users should save evidence and report to mobile network providers for resolution. Additionally, they should provide the evidence to the nearest law enforcement agencies under the provisions of regulations.

Avoiding Online Recruitment Scams
This type of scam involves deceiving victims with promises of high-paying, easy jobs as collaborators for e-commerce platforms such as Tiki, Shopee, Lazada, along with other renowned brands. The scammers aim to rob their victims of money, and the amounts they gain through this form of scamming range from a few million to many hundred million VND.

To identify and steer clear of falling for online recruitment scams, individuals should look out for the following signs:

Demanding upfront payment before commencing work.
Requesting personal bank-account information, including charge card numbers or bank details, under the pretense of making payments or creating accounts.
Advertising jobs with excessively attractive and easy incomes, without requiring special skills or experience.
Unsafe payment pages for orders without security symbols such as for example SSL or "https://" prior to the URL.
Lack of company information or contact details.
Absence of contracts or clear agreements.
Negative feedback and reviews from other users.
If any of these signs are present, individuals should consider the possibility to be scammed and remain vigilant, avoiding falling into traps.

Collaborative Efforts to Promote Cybersecurity
Recognizing the importance to be a pioneer in digital transformation, creating a digital society and a digital nation, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) is among eight corporations and enterprises taking part in the cybersecurity awareness campaign for the public on the cyberspace coordinated by the Authority of Information Security (AIS) and the Vietnam Information Security Association (VNISA). This collaborative effort aims to interact with the federal government, agencies, ministries, and associations to safeguard Vietnamese users safely in the cyberspace.

To conclude, strengthening awareness and alerting the public about various online scams is essential when confronted with increasingly complex and sophisticated cybercriminals. Only when people prioritize vigilance and adopt preventive measures against scams can we safely and confidently embrace the growing digital space of our nation.

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