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On May 12, 2026, the Digital Trust in Finance 2026 forum, themed “Building digital trust in finance in the AI era,” was held at The Ascott Hotel in Tay Ho, Hanoi. The event was organized by the Digital Trust Alliance in collaboration with the National Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention (A05), the National Cyber Security Association, and MoMo, under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Security, the State Bank of Vietnam, and the Ministry of Finance.
During the forum, Lieutenant Colonel and Doctor Bui Thi Lien, a criminal psychology expert at the People’s Security Academy, discussed how behavioral manipulation is evolving amid AI and Deepfake technologies, which are making financial fraud more sophisticated.
Dr. Lien said the forum’s central theme—trust—is not formed instantly. From a psychological standpoint, trust develops through a process involving experience, awareness, emotion, and behavior. She warned that this psychological foundation is increasingly threatened as online fraud rises and AI and Deepfake technologies blur the boundary between real and fake.
She emphasized that the core challenge is building robust “digital financial trust” so users can transact online with confidence rather than fear becoming victims of fraud.
Dr. Lien noted that fraudsters do not rely only on technological facades; they study users’ behavior and psychology closely. In analyzing investment fraud models, she described a scenario in which criminals present themselves as financial experts and lure victims into Telegram or Zalo groups.
In these groups, “bait” arrangements are used to continuously display profits, creating a herd effect and triggering fear of missing out (FOMO). Initial small investments may appear to generate returns and allow withdrawals, while the fake system only escalates when victims risk everything—at which point funds are seized.
“People are easily drawn to glittering things: money, profits, and promises of quick success. When swept up by that glow, we tend to lose our composure,” Dr. Lien said.
Beyond financial bait, cybercriminals are also promoting romance scams that combine investment deception. Dr. Lien referenced practical case files showing carefully drafted scripts—messages of daily care, attentiveness, and steps designed to foster dependence—so victims gradually open their wallets.
Victims are often encouraged with heavy promises such as “building a future together” or “financial freedom.” Dr. Lien described this as a “sweet trap,” where emotions lead people to set aside their guard, creating a sense of being loved and protected that prompts transfers without suspicion.
A key topic at the forum was the paradox of why educated and successful individuals can still fall for online fraud. Dr. Lien said decision-making is influenced by multiple factors and that people do not always act rationally; they may be guided by emotions, expectations, or the desire to recover losses.
She also pointed to confirmation bias, where individuals tend to trust information that aligns with their beliefs while ignoring warning signs. He said the risk of manipulation increases further when criminals are supported by AI and Deepfake tools that enable highly realistic images, voices, or scenarios.
According to Dr. Bui Thi Lien, intelligence does not automatically provide immunity. Overconfidence in one’s knowledge and judgment can create a “blind spot,” where obvious risks are not recognized.
In closing, Dr. Lien urged caution, saying that as technology increasingly blurs the line between real and virtual, users’ most effective protection is calm judgment and rational evaluation of every transaction.
“Building digital trust is not only the responsibility of regulators or platform operators; the first and strongest line of defense must start with each user’s ability to protect themselves.”
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