Be careful of online scams

Online scams have become a global epidemic, with the number of incidents skyrocketing each year.

In the digital age, our lives are increasingly dependent on the Internet and online services. However, along with the conveniences, we also have to face many risks, especially online scams. The forms of scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, causing serious economic, social, and psychological consequences for individuals, organizations, and even communities.

Online scams in Vietnam are increasingly becoming more sophisticated and widespread. According to the Cybersecurity Department (ATTT), Ministry of Information and Communications (TT&TT) of Vietnam, in the first 9 months of 2024, more than 22,200 reports of online scams were received from Internet users sent to the Vietnam Cybersecurity Alert Portal, of which over 80% of the cases involved asset appropriation through digital scams such as bank impersonation, e-wallet fraud, and investment scams.

Especially, 70% of the scam cases come from social media platforms like Zalo and Facebook, according to the information and communication center of Nghe An province, Vietnam.

June 2024 is the month with the highest number of reports in the second quarter, with 11,452 reports, reflecting a significant escalation in the cybersecurity situation and scams, according to the aforementioned Center. Especially, this increase may be related to Decision No. 2345/QĐ-NHNN of the State Bank (Vietnam) which will take effect on July 1, 2024, regarding security solutions such as biometrics for online payments and bank cards.

The above decision has prompted scammers to increase attacks to exploit vulnerabilities before new security measures are implemented.

Online scams not only cause financial losses but also undermine public trust in digital platforms. Data from CyRadar Cybersecurity Company indicates that approximately 2 million users in Vietnam became victims of online scams in 2023, with estimated losses exceeding 21 trillion VND, doubling compared to the previous year. In addition, the impersonation of information and account theft also harm the reputation of organizations and businesses.

This situation creates an urgent need to raise awareness and implement preventive measures.

In the short term, community awareness should be raised: Launch media campaigns about new forms of scams, emphasizing the importance of not sharing personal information on social media.

Use advanced security technology: Enhance the use of two-factor authentication (2FA), passwords must have at least 12 characters, including uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, special characters, and must be changed at least every 90 days; install antivirus software and an automatic threat detection system (IDS/IPS).

Training and periodic testing: Organizations need to conduct information security audits and train employees to recognize signs of phishing attacks. All software must have a legal license and be checked by IT before installation.

Documents should only be transmitted through channels that are encrypted and controlled by IT, such as VPN or secure applications like OneDrive, company SharePoint. Any suspicious email must be reported immediately to the IT department for inspection before opening any files or links. Employees must lock their computers when leaving their desks and always carry their personal mobile devices.

International cooperation: Collaborate with international organizations to share data on attack trends and implement preventive solutions.

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