The inexplicable fascination behind apparent con artistry trickery
In a chilling turn of events, a recent case in HCM City has highlighted the growing problem of online kidnapping scams in Vietnam. A woman paid a ransom of VND10 million after receiving a call claiming her 18-year-old daughter had been kidnapped and sold to Cambodia.
However, it's essential to clarify that police departments, the Procuracy, and courts never send notices or arrest warrants through mobile apps.
Young people in Vietnam have been falling prey to these scams due to a combination of sophisticated tactics used by scammers and vulnerabilities in the digital environment.
Sophisticated Scam Tactics
Scammers use AI tools like deepfake technology, fake websites, and voice-mimicking software to create convincing scenarios. They often impersonate law enforcement officers, prosecutors, or other authorities to instill fear and urgency in victims. Moreover, they frequently use popular, encrypted platforms like Facebook, Zalo, WhatsApp, and Telegram to reach a broad audience and manipulate victims more effectively.
Psychological Manipulation
Victims are often isolated and instructed to cut themselves off from the outside world, including their families. This heightened vulnerability and fear, combined with the urgency of the situation fabricated by scammers, can lead to panicked decisions without proper verification. Scammers also use legal language and threats to demand immediate actions, creating a sense of urgency and legitimacy, making victims feel compelled to comply.
Lack of Awareness or Vigilance
Despite being internet-savvy, young people might not fully understand the complexity of these scams or might underestimate the risks. This lack of awareness about advanced cybercrime tactics can make them more susceptible to falling for sophisticated scams. Additionally, family dynamics play a role, as young people who feel they cannot discuss their experiences openly with their families might hide interactions with scammers, increasing their vulnerability.
Prevention Strategies
To combat these scams, experts recommend increasing awareness about online safety, limiting personal information shared online, verifying communications through trusted sources, and fostering open family relationships to encourage victims to seek help quickly. It's crucial to spread awareness about scams to prevent others from falling victim to them.
This scam, involving someone posing as a police officer and threatening victims with official action, instructing them to get money from their family using a pretext and "deposit" it in a bank, has been ongoing in HCM City since March, with approximately five such scams occurring every month. The scammers then get their hands on the money and disappear.
Scam calls targeting gullible people are not rare in Vietnam, and some people may fall prey to the scam because the scammers somehow have their real names and addresses. Many victims of these scams are from rural areas with little knowledge about sophisticated scams.
It's important to note that reports about these crimes appear frequently in the media and social websites. The mass media, including websites, television series, and films, have tackled issues like human trafficking, revenge porn, and other crimes.
To protect yourself, always verify information from trusted sources before taking any action, and never share sensitive information with unknown parties. If you or someone you know has been a victim of an online scam, seek help immediately and report the incident to the authorities. Let's work together to combat these scams and keep our communities safe.
- The growing problem of online kidnapping scams in Vietnam has brought attention to the need for increased awareness about general-news topics such as personal safety and cybercrime.
- In the world of entertainment-and-self-development and personal-growth, there are increasing efforts to educate audiences about the dangers of falling prey to cybercrime tactics like deepfake technology, voice-mimicking software, and encrypted apps.
- Recent advancements in AI technology have made it easier for crime-and-justice agents to solve cases, but they also raise concerns about potential misuse of the technology in committing crimes like online kidnapping scams.
- In response to the ongoing scams involving impersonation of authorities, law enforcement agencies in Vietnam are emphasizing the importance of vigilance in the digital space and urging citizens to educate themselves on crime-prevention strategies.
