VNDIRECT Securities Company has issued a warning about a scam where fraudsters impersonate the company to steal investors’ assets.
An investor, intending to trade securities, was instructed to transfer money to account number 456932158, held by “CONG TY CO PHAN CHUNG KHOAN VNDIRECT”. Unbeknownst to the investor, this account was not associated with VNDIRECT Securities Company (MSDN: 0102065366), but rather a different entity with a similar name, CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN CHUNG KHOAN VNDIRECT (MSDN: 4300897250), taking advantage of the lack of diacritics in the account name display during bank transfers.
“We have received a report and verified that the aforementioned account number belongs to CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN CHUNG KHOAN VNDIRECT and not VNDIRECT Securities Company. These scammers established a company with a deceptively similar name to deceive and trick investors into transferring funds, which they then embezzled,” VNDIRECT Securities Company warned.
The company is currently taking necessary actions and coordinating with relevant state agencies to address this violation and protect investors from such fraudulent activities.
Despite repeated warnings, many people still fall victim to the increasingly sophisticated schemes of financial scammers. AI-illustrated image.
To combat these scams and protect investors’ assets, VNDIRECT Securities Company advises against accessing links or connections in unfamiliar SMS or emails. Investors should also exercise caution when choosing a legal and official trading channel to prevent financial loss due to fraud.
Banks have also been warning customers about scams involving impersonation of bank brands and other deceptive tactics.
SHB, for instance, has implemented a security measure where customers using the SHB Mobile application on Android devices will receive a notification if the app is granted accessibility permissions. This is in response to the emergence of sophisticated scams that trick customers into downloading fake government agency apps, such as “Dịch vụ công,” “Tổng cục thuế,” and “Bộ công an.”
These scams often involve deceptive websites and links mimicking official app stores, Play Store, and App Store, or requesting personal and account security information. Once the customer provides this information, the scammers gain unauthorized access to their e-banking accounts, steal funds, or instruct them to transfer money to complete a fictitious transaction or pay fees.
Of particular concern is the recent proliferation of scams involving the hijacking of accessibility permissions on Android phones. Devices infected with malicious apps may exhibit suspicious behavior, such as rapid battery drain, the appearance of unfamiliar apps, or apps launching automatically even when the phone is idle.
