Meta – the technology conglomerate managing the two most popular social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, in Vietnam, has shared some ways to help users identify common online scams during the Lunar New Year.
According to Meta, the increase in shopping and exchange activities during the Lunar New Year through digital platforms also creates more opportunities for online scams.
To help the community be aware of potential scams on their platforms, Meta has listed some common scams and prevention methods to ensure online safety for users in Vietnam.
Meta’s recommendations to users to avoid online scams
There are three typical scams related to the Lunar New Year: e-red envelopes, cheap Tet food and airline tickets, and cheap train and bus tickets.
For e-red envelopes, scammers have taken advantage of this tradition to impersonate acquaintances of the victims and send virtual e-red envelopes via social media or messaging platforms.
If users click on the links, they may unintentionally provide personal information and become victims of scams. To avoid falling victim to this trick, users should verify the identity of the sender before accepting these red envelopes.
Content creators create videos to help users identify scams
During the Lunar New Year, scammers take advantage of high travel demand and inflated ticket prices to offer attractive promotions for airline tickets or train and bus tickets. To avoid becoming a victim, users should purchase tickets directly through official channels or reputable companies.
Another prevalent scam is taking advantage of consumers who have limited time to shop for the Lunar New Year by advertising fake cheap products and services.
To prevent online scams during the Lunar New Year, Meta recommends users to set up two-factor authentication to protect their online accounts and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Users should authenticate before sending money or personal information on digital platforms.
If users find suspicious posts on Facebook or Instagram, they should use the reporting feature to help Meta identify and take measures against scams.
