According to a warning issued by Hanoi Municipal Police Department, as shared by the Information Security Magazine, a new form of online fraud has emerged, using "customer appreciation gifts" as bait for scams on Vietnamese Women's Day (20/10). Fraudsters impersonate employees of major e-commerce platforms or well-known supermarket chains to announce and send free appreciation gifts. They then instruct customers to complete certain tasks and transfer a specific amount of money.

Detecting the scam

Recently, Ms. C (born in 1964, residing in Tay Ho district) saw an advertisement on Facebook from a fake fashion brand offering gifts on Vietnamese Women's Day. After messaging to claim her gift, she was contacted by someone pretending to be a customer service specialist. The individual instructed her to perform certain tasks in exchange for money and gifts.

Unfortunately, Ms. C transferred approximately 50 million VND to the fraudster. The scammer then asked for more money to claim a larger gift. Luckily, when she went to the bank to transfer an additional 40 million VND, the bank teller noticed signs of fraud and reported it to the Thuy Khue Ward Police. After being persuaded, Ms. C stopped sending money to the scammers.

Warnings from Hanoi Municipal Police Department

The police advise people to be cautious of messages or calls announcing prize winnings or free customer appreciation programs, as these could be scams targeting people's desire for gifts. If you encounter any suspicious activities, report them to the nearest police station for support and resolution.

Tips to avoid falling for scams

To avoid becoming a victim of such scams, users should: 

• Avoid clicking on suspicious links, especially those received via text or email from unknown sources.
  
• Never provide personal information, account details, passwords over the phone, text message or email.
  
• Use a YubiKey security key to protect your online accounts, adding an extra layer of security and ensuring your personal information is not stolen.