A new scam in Vietnam is using small traffic fines as bait to steal bank card information, authorities and local media reported. The scheme typically cites a fine of 50,000 dong (about 2,800 won), encouraging victims to enter card details without suspicion. Reports say even residents of major cities have been deceived.
VnExpress reported that a Hanoi resident, Ngoc Ha, received a text message on April 25 saying her vehicle had committed a traffic violation and instructing her to immediately visit a specific website to resolve the fine. She said the domain included the word “Dichvucong,” meaning public service, leading her to believe it was an official site.
The site, however, was a counterfeit that copied the domain name and interface of the national public services portal. Ha said, “Because the screen looked familiar, I didn’t suspect anything.” The page claimed her vehicle had committed an “obstructing parking” violation and assessed a 50,000-dong fine. It also prompted users to pay immediately by entering a card number, cardholder name, expiration date and CVV code.
Ha said she intended to pay because the amount was small, but she did not have her card and could not recall the details. “If not for that, I would have lost all my money,” she said. VnExpress reported that many people received similar messages last week.
◆ Hanoi police: No traffic-violation notices by text or phone; report fake portals
Hanoi police issued an official warning, describing the scam as a tactic that sends messages about allegedly unresolved traffic violations and lures recipients to a fake link, allowing criminals to take control of cards and withdraw money from accounts.
Police said the link is designed with an interface similar to the national public services portal to gain trust. If a victim enters bank card information, including a card number and an OTP code, criminals can seize control of the card and withdraw funds, police said.
Police also stressed that there is currently no method of notifying traffic violations by text message or phone call. Violations are notified in writing, and vehicle owners or related parties are summoned to a police station, they said. Those who want to check violations should use the official traffic police website or the VNeTraffic app.
Authorities said scams using fake websites have persisted in Vietnam for years, with tactics evolving. Fraudsters impersonate familiar banks, government agencies, e-commerce platforms and other services to steal accounts and money. Such messages may be distributed through fake base stations or unregistered SIM cards. While mobile carriers have tightened subscriber verification to block unregistered SIM use, scam attempts continue, the report said.
Authorities urged the public to use only official websites and to carefully check domains, security certificates and unusual signs in interfaces and language. Passwords, OTP codes and personal information should never be provided to unverified sites. Anyone who suspects fraud should immediately lock their account and report it to authorities.
Vietnamese internet users voiced concern and criticism. One commenter wrote that they hoped VNeID would quickly integrate systems under centralized management so problems could be reported through a single channel. The commenter also warned that having separate apps for traffic, taxes and other services increases risk, adding, “If people in cities are being fooled, I’m more worried about rural areas.”
Another commenter said the public should recognize that the government does not impose fines or penalties by phone, adding that “if you go in person, your money stays safe.” Others also said scams have become too common during the digitization process.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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