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Hanoi police reported that on August 2, the Dich Vong Hau ward police in Cau Giay district received a report from Mr. N (born 1984, permanent residence in Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi) about a fraud case involving the loss of VND 1.8 billion. Mr. N received a call from someone claiming to be a Social Insurance employee who asked him to update his information on the VssID app. Mr. N trusted the caller and downloaded the software and logged in using the link provided. He was then instructed to update his fingerprint, take a face scan, and send his ID card photos to the scammer. About an hour later, he discovered that VND 1.8 billion had been withdrawn from his bank account. Realizing he had been scammed, Mr. N reported the incident to the police.
In recent times, Hanoi police have warned about the modus operandi of scammers pretending to be officials or employees of the Vietnam Social Security and guiding people to install the fake Social Insurance app, VssID. However, due to negligence, many people have fallen into this trap and lost large amounts of money after installing the malicious software.
To avoid falling victim to this scam, where fraudsters pretend to be social insurance officers and request assistance in installing the fake Social Insurance app, VssID, which contains malware that allows them to take control of the victim’s phone and make unauthorized transactions, the Hanoi police advise the following: Be cautious of unfamiliar calls or messages purportedly from officials of government agencies. Do not provide personal information or follow any instructions given over the phone. Instead, contact the relevant authorities to verify the caller’s identity. Only install software that has been officially announced by authorized agencies through their websites. Do not click on links received via text messages or install applications from unknown sources through links or Apk files.
Stay informed about the latest tactics and schemes used by cybercriminals through the media and inform your loved ones and those around you about these scams.
