New scam scheme involving delivery couriers targets online shoppers.

Fraud schemes targeting online shoppers are evolving rapidly, with cybercriminals increasingly using more convincing impersonation tactics and psychological pressure. In a recent urgent warning, Ho Chi Minh City Police described a new trap aimed at people who frequently shop online, in which scammers pose as delivery couriers and use livestream sessions to obtain order-related information. The approach is designed to push victims into transferring money quickly, sometimes within minutes.

How the scam worked

One typical case involved Mr. T.V.H in Go Vap District, who reported that more than 100 million VND was taken from his account without his consent. Because he regularly ordered medical devices online, the offenders pretended to be delivery staff from a store he was familiar with and called to announce that his package had been received.

According to the police warning, the scammers chose timing carefully—contacting the victim when he was at work and not at home—then requested an upfront transfer. They also relied on the victim’s assumption that the order amount was not too large and that the item was exactly what he was expecting.

Escalation and the “regular customer” pressure

After the initial transfer, the criminals claimed there was a system error and asked Mr. H to transfer again. They then intensified the pressure with a message stating that he had been automatically enrolled in a “regular customer” service package by the delivery company, with monthly fees ranging from 2 million to 10 million VND.

Facing the risk of unexpected charges, the victim became alarmed. The scammers then impersonated a call-center agent, guided him to add them on Zalo, and sent a suspicious link that promised quick cancellation of the service. Once Mr. H clicked the fake link, his phone was compromised, and the scammers drained more than 100 million VND from his bank account before he could respond.

Police guidance for prevention

Given the ongoing criminal activity and changing tactics, authorities advised the public to strengthen defenses using three core principles:

• Never share personal information, passwords, OTP codes, or images of citizen ID cards over the phone, even if the caller claims to be law enforcement or a delivery worker.

• Question any requests for money outside standard procedures, such as cancellation fees or account upgrade fees, and proactively verify by contacting the seller through official channels.

• If signs of fraud appear, stop contact immediately, do not click links, and promptly report the incident to the nearest police agency with supporting evidence such as audio recordings and messages.