Strengthening Online Scam Awareness to Safeguard the Digital Space
Strengthening Online Scam Awareness to Safeguard the Digital Space increasing amount of detected online scams, cybercriminals, and the rising damages due to fraud are ringing alarm bells for everyone. Having awareness about online fraud and raising vigilance against online scams have become more crucial than previously.
With over 70 million Internet users and limited awareness about online fraud tactics, Vietnam has turned into a fertile ground for cybercriminals to thrive with increasingly sophisticated and dangerous scamming schemes, targeting high-value assets. Social media marketing platforms, OTT messaging applications, and various online channels, and will be offering connectivity and clear communication benefits, also have become channels for criminals to execute scams on various user demographics, from older people to workers in offices, laborers, youth, students, and also children.
Dominant Forms 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 as a result of 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 just two hours because of various reasons like "unpaid fines" or "incorrect subscriber information." After requesting private 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 into the victim's e-wallet applications, social media accounts, etc., and claim to possess forgotten their login credentials, choosing the feature to get OTP notification calls. From there, Strengthening Online Scam Awareness to Safeguard the Digital Space are able to easily hijack social media accounts, control e-wallet funds, and access bank accounts associated with e-wallets.
In Strengthening Online Scam Awareness to Safeguard the Digital Space to avoid falling victim, 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 should only follow update and standardization notifications from official channels of mobile network service 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 create fake BTS stations are plentiful 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 following actions:
Remember that banks, providers, manufacturers, etc., typically usually do not request personal information through SMS, email, chat software, etc. Therefore, receiving SMS messages demanding personal 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, credit card numbers, and other bank-related information over the phone, email, social media marketing, or websites. Use electronic banking services only through the official website of the bank, and contact the bank's hotline for official information. The state websites of banks usually utilize 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 case of fraud discovery, users should save evidence and report to mobile network providers for resolution. Additionally, they ought to provide the evidence to the nearest law enforcement agencies under the provisions of the law.
Avoiding Online Recruitment Scams
This form of scam involves deceiving victims with promises of high-paying, easy jobs as collaborators for e-commerce platforms such as Tiki, Shopee, Lazada, and other renowned brands. The scammers try to rob their victims of money, and the amounts they gain through this form of scamming range from a few million to several hundred million VND.
To identify and prevent 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 earning 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 these signs are present, individuals should consider the possibility to be scammed and remain vigilant, avoiding falling into traps.
Collaborative Efforts to market 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 participating 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 work together with the federal government, agencies, ministries, and associations to protect Vietnamese users safely in the cyberspace.
In conclusion, strengthening awareness and alerting the general public about various online scams is crucial in the face of 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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