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Growing demand for travel and movement during major holidays and the summer season has inadvertently created opportunities for online scammers, especially with scams involving discounted airline tickets and inexpensive tours. According to Hanoi Police, there have been numerous cases recently of people being duped when booking services via social media. The common tactic is to set up fake fan pages, pose as collaborators or agents of airlines, then offer prices lower than the market to attract buyers. When victims contact the perpetrators, they often require upfront payment for 'holding' or 'limited-time' discounts, or 'almost sold out' tickets. Playing on fear of missing out and the desire to close quickly, many people transfer money without verifying information. After receiving the money, the perpetrators immediately cut off contact and steal the funds. People should be highly vigilant against increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes (illustration). In reality, this scam is not new but keeps evolving to become more sophisticated, from copying the look of fan pages, using credible brand images, to crafting professional advisory scripts designed to build trust. A moment of complacency can cost a user money in just a few minutes of trading. In response to this situation, the police advise the public to be especially wary of unusually cheap offers compared to the market. Booking airline tickets and tours should be done through official websites or clearly authenticated agencies. The public should never transfer money before carefully checking seller information, and should not provide OTP codes, passwords, or bank account details to anyone. With suspicious links or apps of unclear origin, exercise caution before accessing or installing to avoid data theft. If verification is needed, proactively contact the official helpline of the airline or travel company. If signs of fraud are detected, the public should promptly report to the nearest police authorities for timely assistance. In a context where online shopping and service bookings are increasingly common, convenience always comes with risk. A single impulsive decision for a 'cheap price' can cost you all your savings.
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